Cornelia May White

Cornelia May White, 86, of Petersburg, died at 8:05 am, Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home. She was born July 22, 1930 in Memphis, TN to Luther A. and Velma F. Turner White.

Survivors include two nieces, Andrea (Tommy) Deeds of Cooper, TX and Jeanine White of Springfield; three nephews, Paul (Brenda) White of Petersburg, Wes White of Springfield and Mark (Betty) White of Rochester; two great nephews, Chad Kerker and Greg White; one great niece, Courtney White; one great great niece, Christina Kerker and one great great great niece, Leah Niekamp.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Ray E. White and one sister-in-law, Clara Lily White.

Miss White was a graduate of Quincy Senior High School in 1948. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Quincy University in 1954 and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Missouri at Columbia, MO in 1967. Her teaching career began in a one room rural schoolhouse, south of Quincy, followed by positions in Mendon, St. Louis, Missouri, Quincy, Peoria and Liberty; with the last twelve years of teaching at Glenwood Senior High at Chatham, IL.

She loved animals especially her cats and enjoyed bird watching. Hobbies included crocheting/ sewing, writing, reading and the family historian.

Cornelia was very devoted to her Catholic Faith.

Graveside Service: 1 pm, Friday, June 9, 2017 at Looney Springs Cemetery in Campbell Hill, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities or the Animal Protective League.