The year was 1972. Mae Lois Tudman White was 22 years old and had just graduated from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M-Commerce). Richard Nixon was president and Mrs. White was just a few months away from getting married. She was hired by the Mount Pleasant Independent School District. Fifty years later, Mae Lois Tudman White is entering her 50th year of education and stands as a living legacy not only at MPISD, but at her church and in her community.
“Mother White” was recognized for her 50 years of education during “The Living Legacy Gala,” held Saturday at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. Saturday was also her 72nd birthday and she celebrated with nearly 100 friends, family members and coworkers.
Mother White was escorted into the ceremony by her son, Minister J.C. (Jared) White, to a standing ovation.
The event featured reflections from her family, church family, coworkers and friends as well as stirring musical performances by national recording artists Dr. Tony Wade and Kirisma Evans.
Mae Lois Tudman White was born June 21, 1950 in Pittsburg. Her father, Harold, was a church District Superintendent and MIssionary and the family moved to Mount Pleasant when she was one. She was the second of six children and she attended Booker T. Washington elementary, junior high and high school.
After graduating as class valedictorian, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in sociology from East Texas State in 1972, receiving her Masters degree in 1974.
In 1972, Mother White was hired by MPISD and started at E.C. Brice. She was transferred to Vivian Fowler in 1974. She was named Teacher of the Year three times: in 1972-73, 1991-92 and 2015-16.
Mother White is equally proud of her church service, serving as District Supervisor of Women of the Progressive, Faith, Temple and Greater Hope Outreach District for the past 32 years. She became a licensed Missionary in 1991 and is currently a member of Marantha Church of God in Christ, where she serves on the finance committee and as assistant, secretary, missionary and Bible study teacher.
In 1972, she married the late Pastor James Charles (J.C.) White. The couple had two children: Jared (J.C.), owner of J.C. White Funeral and Cremation Services in Mount Pleasant and Dr. Natalie White, counselor and registrar at Mesquite ISD.
Many of her friends and family were more than happy to tell Mother White how much she has meant to them.
“She’s not only a coworker, she’s become like a mom to me,” said Vivian Fowler counselor Debra Williamson. “When she introduces me, she says, ‘This is my counselor.’ She’s the best coworker anyone could ask for because we come to school and sometimes our hearts are heavy with our problems and we look at our students whom we love so much and we try to find remedies to make them successful. Ms. White is one of the most tremendous educators I’ve had the pleasure of working with. She’s a joy to everyone in our building.” “I succeeded at my job because of people like Mae Lois White,” said former Fowler principal Gwen Roberts. “When she talked in meetings, people listened. When my son Darren entered third grade, we could request which teacher we wanted for our children. I had no doubts in my mind whose class I wanted him to be in. To this day, he will tell you that Ms. White is his favorite teacher. Mount Pleasant is a better place and MPISD is a better place because of Ms. White.”
Darren Roberts, now a lawyer in the Austin area who served as master of ceremonies for the first half of the ceremony, said Mother White made him believe he could be anything he wanted to be.
“When I was in her class, she asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her I wanted to be the black Davy Crockett – I was going through a phase, I had a coonskin cap,” he said “She looked me in my eyes and told me, ‘I’ll just be proud if you’ll be the best you.’ I’m so thankful to have spent time under her.”
MPISD superintendent Judd Marshall told the crowd how impressed he was by her career.
“Ms. White started when I was born, and I say that with all due respect,” he said. “MPISD is the greatest job I’ve ever had and the greatest district. I work for our staff, students and parents and Ms. White is one of the pillars of what we do at MPISD.
“It’s difficult to imagine what happens to Vivian Fowler and MPISD when the Mae Lois Whites of the world are no longer teaching. Our kids need to be loved every single day and need to know they have a support system at school that will make everything alright for them. Ms. White is the epitome of how to be in public education. I’m so honored and privileged to work with someone like Ms. White. She loves what she does, she has a passion for her students and wants to see them achieve. She also has to be a little bit crazy to do this for 50 years of her life. I hope she does this another 15 years. We would not be where we are today without people like Mae Lois White.”
The city of Mount Pleasant, Titus County, State Representative Cole Hefner and Church of God in Christ national General Supervisor Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis all issued proclamations honoring Mother White for her years of service.