![Matthew Henry White (September 1, 1948 - November 18, 2022) Sunrise Matthew Henry White was born to Ed White and Elsie (Ambrose) White on September 1, 1948, in Piney Green, NC outside of Jacksonville. Matthew known as "Joe" to his family, was the youngest of five children. He and his brothers and sister, Edwin Jr., Willie James, Cary O'Neal, and Anna Marie lived on the family farm. After a divorce, his mother remarried Herman Slade, and there were three more siblings -- Odessa, Mary Ann, and Herman Jr. With Joe being the youngest, he didn't have to do much farming (he picked cotton once) but he still manage to get kicked in the head by a mule! He said he "saw stars". Faith As a young child, Matt attended Chapel Baptist Church. He later accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and was baptized at the Piney Green Church of God, where his mother pastored. Later, moving to DC, he attended the Third Street Church of God. In 1984, he and Cynthia joined Rehoboth Baptist Church in DC where he served as Trustee, head of Van Ministry, and sang with the Gospel Chorus and Male Chorus. He was also Co-Chair of several Church Anniversary celebrations, and was instrumental in the publication of Rehoboth's book, 150 Years by Faith, History of Rehoboth Baptist Church, 1864 - 2014".In 2015, he and Cynthia joined the First Baptist Church of Glenarden where he enjoyed the preaching and teaching of Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr., and was active in the Music and Arts Ministry (Male Chorus), the Couples Ministry (Couples in Discipleship and 8@8), and the Men's Ministry (MCC - Men connecting with Christ), Samson's Dilemma, the Huddle, and Half Time (for Senior brothers). He enjoyed a broad, faithful FBCG church family. Education & Military Service “Joe” attended Onslow County Public Schools – which were segregated at the time. In June 1966, although he attended Georgetown High School (the “colored” high school), his graduation was held at Jacksonville High School (the “white” school) – because on graduation morning, there was a suspicious explosion and fire at the “colored school” which destroyed the gymnasium where graduation was to be held. Change did not come easily in North Carolina, however after the explosion, the next school year, Jacksonville’s schools were finally desegregated – a full 12 years after Brown vs. Board of Education.After high school, Matt’s brothers Edwin and Willie convinced him to come to DC to live with them, and for a semester, he attended Georgetown University – then the money ran out and he could not pay for the next semester. As the Vietnam War was in full swing, and he was no longer enrolled in college, Uncle Sam sent him “Greetings” and he was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps (Semper Fi). After basic training at Paris Island, Matt was stationed at Camp LeJune, back in Jacksonville, NC, his hometown. He served active duty at Quantico for two years and another 7 years in the USMC Reserves. Because two of his brothers already serving (O’Neal in the Army and Willie in the Air Force), Matt was not deployed into combat. Sgt. White, a sharpshooter, was honorably discharged from active duty in 1971 and from reserve duty in 1977. However, Once a Marine – Always a Marine! “Oo-rah”! Marriage & Family Matt was blessed with two daughters from his first marriage to the late Theo Blanche (Callahan) White – Susan Yvette White and Stephanie Denise Green. The marriage ended in divorce after 10 years. His later marriage to Cynthia Jones Robinson has lasted nearly 40 years, and afforded him two bonus children, Jamila Kali Robinson and Kevin Bryant Robinson, Sr., whom he raised as his own (just as Herman Slade had done for him). The family has happy memories of enjoying IHOP Sunday breakfasts “booth for 6 please”, losing Kevin in Basics grocery store (imagine that), trips to the Wilderness, and drive-in movies on the back of a pickup truck. And then he was blessed with grandchildren whom he adored: Susan’s daughters: Dantise Brown and Jasmine White, Stephanie’s boys: Dennis, Steven, and David Green, Kevin’s son Kevin Jr. (KJ), and Jamila’s crew: Christian Odom, Dalilah Robinson, London Harrison (and Dior!), Benjamin “BJ” Washington and the late Ray-Ray Harrison. Career After several retail and security jobs, Matt began his career at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1966 – staying there until his retirement in 2004. He worked his way up from file clerk and then chauffeur, to engineering draftsman, telecommunications, AV specialist – to the Chief of Audio Visual & Conferences Division, Office of Justice Programs, DOJ. He worked at BOP, JMD, and OJP. He also proudly participated in JMD’s mentoring program for DCPS students. Along the way, Matt accomplished several “firsts” and many career highlights. In the early ‘80s, “video” was new, state-of-the-art technology and became an expert in professional video production – to the point where DOJ attorneys nationwide (US Attorneys), as well as local Divisions attorneys, who required this new technology, were directed to him to provide video services. In support of these cases, Matt frequently traveled to USAOs, and traveled with the attorneys internationally when required: to Canada, London, Isle of Man (England), Bern (Switzerland), the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Brussels (Belgium) – all because he had the new video expertise. In 1982, during the federal prosecution of John Hinckley for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, Matt was in the courtroom tasked with playing back his videotaped deposition of actor Jodie Foster (who had been the “reason” for Hinckley’s attempt) and playing back the actual video of the assassination attempt, which he had edited in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC US Attorney’s Office. In 1983, from inside the federal MAX penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, Matt directed the satellite uplink of the testimony of Edwin P. Wilson, accused spy, to his trial being held in a courtroom in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria (first time a federal defendant’s testimony was presented via satellite). In 1985, Matt was hired (freelance) by The Washington Home and Hospice in northwest DC, to video record Princess Diana, during her official visit to Washington, DC where she was presented with a plaque commemorating her humanitarian efforts. In 1987, Matt videotaped the deposition of President Regan for use in the Iran Contra/Ollie North trial [the first time a sitting President had been deposed via video]. Later, he flew from DC to Los Angeles, with several 50-pound cameras and other equipment to direct the trial video from the courtroom to playback Reagan’s deposition [first time a sitting President was used in a federal trial], and to provide overall live video feed [first time a federal trial had been broadcasted to the public]. It was Matt’s live feed that CNN broadcasted to the world. He received an award from DOJ, but somehow, he never heard from CNN. Often, it was ‘Matt White’ who provided the technical support needed by the Office of the Attorney General and other DOJ leadership. He was so well known that both President Reagan, and then Senator Biden called him “Mr. DOJ” when they saw him. After 38 years at DOJ, working for 9 Attorneys General, directing probably thousands of Main Justice press conferences, performing video production everywhere from inside a federal maximum-security penitentiary, to Europe, to The White House Rose Garden, to congressional hearings, Matt retired from federal service in January 2004. Retirement & Hobbies Even after his retirement, for several years, Matt ran his own video business, and was a Certified Legal Video Specialist for the National Association of Court Reporters, working with defense attorneys. He also videotaped and photographed hundreds of weddings and other special occasions and he directed the video of ‘The Christmas Revels’ performance at the Lisner Auditorium (GW University). He even taped an Oprah episode at the US Chamber of Commerce in downtown DC in which Oprah interviewed the spouses of the Challenger astronauts after the terrible explosion. Matt enjoyed watching football (they were the Redskins, then), and for many years he bowled on the Socialites league, and later participated in Senior Softball on the Bowie Gold team. He and Cynthia enjoyed traveling, especially cruising – even missing the ship in Greece allowing them 3 free days in Venice, Italy – on Royal Caribbean’s dime! He played golf with his Woodmore South neighbors and others; he “Segway’d” once, Jet Ski’d once. And way back in the day, he was an avid CB’er – “breaker, breaker, this is Mechanic Man.” He was an automotive mechanic, receiving his certification from Lincoln Technical Institute. He loved all things technical or electronic. He read Chilton’s automotive catalogs and B&H audiovisual catalogs for fun. He installed a transmission in a car he was repairing in the driveway in Forest Heights, with snow on the ground. He installed his own satellite dish in Fort Washington. He pulled his own coax cable through a house he and Cynthia were building in Mitchellville. He installed his own theater room in Odenton. He and a buddy (you know who you are) successfully retrieved his tow truck (yes, he owned a tow truck) from a would-be car thief. He was Rambo-dad (you know who you are, too). There was no job too tough for him to tackle, and successfully complete – he would figure it out. Sunset In God’s perfect time, as a baptized believer, and after a life-long battle with sarcoidosis, Matthew went him,home to be with his Lord and Savior. He is survived by his wife, his children, his son-in-law Larry Odom, and his grandchildren. His siblings and in-laws, Edwin and Marge, O’Neal, Willie and Jackie, Anna and George, Herman Jr., Odessa, and Mary Ann also survive him, as do numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends. Matthew bore his thorns but led a blessed life as a child of God.](slides/Matthew__White.jpg) 1 Matthew Henry White (September 1, 1948 - November 18, 2022) Sunrise Matthew Henry White was born to Ed White and Elsie (Ambrose) White on September 1, 1948, in Piney Green, NC outside of Jacksonville. Matthew known as "Joe" to his family, was the youngest of five children. He and his brothers and sister, Edwin Jr., Willie James, Cary O'Neal, and Anna Marie lived on the family farm. After a divorce, his mother remarried Herman Slade, and there were three more siblings -- Odessa, Mary Ann, and Herman Jr. With Joe being the youngest, he didn't have to do much farming (he picked cotton once) but he still manage to get kicked in the head by a mule! He said he "saw stars". Faith As a young child, Matt attended Chapel Baptist Church. He later accepted Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and was baptized at the Piney Green Church of God, where his mother pastored. Later, moving to DC, he attended the Third Street Church of God. In 1984, he and Cynthia joined Rehoboth Baptist Church in DC where he served as Trustee, head of Van Ministry, and sang with the Gospel Chorus and Male Chorus. He was also Co-Chair of several Church Anniversary celebrations, and was instrumental in the publication of Rehoboth's book, 150 Years by Faith, History of Rehoboth Baptist Church, 1864 - 2014".In 2015, he and Cynthia joined the First Baptist Church of Glenarden where he enjoyed the preaching and teaching of Pastor John K. Jenkins, Sr., and was active in the Music and Arts Ministry (Male Chorus), the Couples Ministry (Couples in Discipleship and 8@8), and the Men's Ministry (MCC - Men connecting with Christ), Samson's Dilemma, the Huddle, and Half Time (for Senior brothers). He enjoyed a broad, faithful FBCG church family. Education & Military Service “Joe” attended Onslow County Public Schools – which were segregated at the time. In June 1966, although he attended Georgetown High School (the “colored” high school), his graduation was held at Jacksonville High School (the “white” school) – because on graduation morning, there was a suspicious explosion and fire at the “colored school” which destroyed the gymnasium where graduation was to be held. Change did not come easily in North Carolina, however after the explosion, the next school year, Jacksonville’s schools were finally desegregated – a full 12 years after Brown vs. Board of Education.After high school, Matt’s brothers Edwin and Willie convinced him to come to DC to live with them, and for a semester, he attended Georgetown University – then the money ran out and he could not pay for the next semester. As the Vietnam War was in full swing, and he was no longer enrolled in college, Uncle Sam sent him “Greetings” and he was inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps (Semper Fi). After basic training at Paris Island, Matt was stationed at Camp LeJune, back in Jacksonville, NC, his hometown. He served active duty at Quantico for two years and another 7 years in the USMC Reserves. Because two of his brothers already serving (O’Neal in the Army and Willie in the Air Force), Matt was not deployed into combat. Sgt. White, a sharpshooter, was honorably discharged from active duty in 1971 and from reserve duty in 1977. However, Once a Marine – Always a Marine! “Oo-rah”! Marriage & Family Matt was blessed with two daughters from his first marriage to the late Theo Blanche (Callahan) White – Susan Yvette White and Stephanie Denise Green. The marriage ended in divorce after 10 years. His later marriage to Cynthia Jones Robinson has lasted nearly 40 years, and afforded him two bonus children, Jamila Kali Robinson and Kevin Bryant Robinson, Sr., whom he raised as his own (just as Herman Slade had done for him). The family has happy memories of enjoying IHOP Sunday breakfasts “booth for 6 please”, losing Kevin in Basics grocery store (imagine that), trips to the Wilderness, and drive-in movies on the back of a pickup truck. And then he was blessed with grandchildren whom he adored: Susan’s daughters: Dantise Brown and Jasmine White, Stephanie’s boys: Dennis, Steven, and David Green, Kevin’s son Kevin Jr. (KJ), and Jamila’s crew: Christian Odom, Dalilah Robinson, London Harrison (and Dior!), Benjamin “BJ” Washington and the late Ray-Ray Harrison. Career After several retail and security jobs, Matt began his career at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 1966 – staying there until his retirement in 2004. He worked his way up from file clerk and then chauffeur, to engineering draftsman, telecommunications, AV specialist – to the Chief of Audio Visual & Conferences Division, Office of Justice Programs, DOJ. He worked at BOP, JMD, and OJP. He also proudly participated in JMD’s mentoring program for DCPS students. Along the way, Matt accomplished several “firsts” and many career highlights. In the early ‘80s, “video” was new, state-of-the-art technology and became an expert in professional video production – to the point where DOJ attorneys nationwide (US Attorneys), as well as local Divisions attorneys, who required this new technology, were directed to him to provide video services. In support of these cases, Matt frequently traveled to USAOs, and traveled with the attorneys internationally when required: to Canada, London, Isle of Man (England), Bern (Switzerland), the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Brussels (Belgium) – all because he had the new video expertise. In 1982, during the federal prosecution of John Hinckley for the attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan, Matt was in the courtroom tasked with playing back his videotaped deposition of actor Jodie Foster (who had been the “reason” for Hinckley’s attempt) and playing back the actual video of the assassination attempt, which he had edited in collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department and the DC US Attorney’s Office. In 1983, from inside the federal MAX penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, Matt directed the satellite uplink of the testimony of Edwin P. Wilson, accused spy, to his trial being held in a courtroom in the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria (first time a federal defendant’s testimony was presented via satellite). In 1985, Matt was hired (freelance) by The Washington Home and Hospice in northwest DC, to video record Princess Diana, during her official visit to Washington, DC where she was presented with a plaque commemorating her humanitarian efforts. In 1987, Matt videotaped the deposition of President Regan for use in the Iran Contra/Ollie North trial [the first time a sitting President had been deposed via video]. Later, he flew from DC to Los Angeles, with several 50-pound cameras and other equipment to direct the trial video from the courtroom to playback Reagan’s deposition [first time a sitting President was used in a federal trial], and to provide overall live video feed [first time a federal trial had been broadcasted to the public]. It was Matt’s live feed that CNN broadcasted to the world. He received an award from DOJ, but somehow, he never heard from CNN. Often, it was ‘Matt White’ who provided the technical support needed by the Office of the Attorney General and other DOJ leadership. He was so well known that both President Reagan, and then Senator Biden called him “Mr. DOJ” when they saw him. After 38 years at DOJ, working for 9 Attorneys General, directing probably thousands of Main Justice press conferences, performing video production everywhere from inside a federal maximum-security penitentiary, to Europe, to The White House Rose Garden, to congressional hearings, Matt retired from federal service in January 2004. Retirement & Hobbies Even after his retirement, for several years, Matt ran his own video business, and was a Certified Legal Video Specialist for the National Association of Court Reporters, working with defense attorneys. He also videotaped and photographed hundreds of weddings and other special occasions and he directed the video of ‘The Christmas Revels’ performance at the Lisner Auditorium (GW University). He even taped an Oprah episode at the US Chamber of Commerce in downtown DC in which Oprah interviewed the spouses of the Challenger astronauts after the terrible explosion. Matt enjoyed watching football (they were the Redskins, then), and for many years he bowled on the Socialites league, and later participated in Senior Softball on the Bowie Gold team. He and Cynthia enjoyed traveling, especially cruising – even missing the ship in Greece allowing them 3 free days in Venice, Italy – on Royal Caribbean’s dime! He played golf with his Woodmore South neighbors and others; he “Segway’d” once, Jet Ski’d once. And way back in the day, he was an avid CB’er – “breaker, breaker, this is Mechanic Man.” He was an automotive mechanic, receiving his certification from Lincoln Technical Institute. He loved all things technical or electronic. He read Chilton’s automotive catalogs and B&H audiovisual catalogs for fun. He installed a transmission in a car he was repairing in the driveway in Forest Heights, with snow on the ground. He installed his own satellite dish in Fort Washington. He pulled his own coax cable through a house he and Cynthia were building in Mitchellville. He installed his own theater room in Odenton. He and a buddy (you know who you are) successfully retrieved his tow truck (yes, he owned a tow truck) from a would-be car thief. He was Rambo-dad (you know who you are, too). There was no job too tough for him to tackle, and successfully complete – he would figure it out. Sunset In God’s perfect time, as a baptized believer, and after a life-long battle with sarcoidosis, Matthew went him,home to be with his Lord and Savior. He is survived by his wife, his children, his son-in-law Larry Odom, and his grandchildren. His siblings and in-laws, Edwin and Marge, O’Neal, Willie and Jackie, Anna and George, Herman Jr., Odessa, and Mary Ann also survive him, as do numerous nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends. Matthew bore his thorns but led a blessed life as a child of God. |
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