(Page last updated Jan 23, 2024)
Prof James White, was a professor of music. He was the son of Benjamin Franklin & Thurza Melvina [Golightly] White. His father also a musician, teacher, and song writer of the Sacred Harp style of music.

Ebenezer Cemetery is on James death certificate, this cemetery is also known as 'Miller Family Cemetery', See notes at bottom for more information. James three sons are also buried at this cemetery. James, Ben, Julian White. His wife is also said to be buried here.

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**Attached Photo to left: Left: 1. Prof James, 2. Son James Jr, 3. Nephew Charles Clark,
4th Unidentified friend, photo taken about 1920.**

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He married Mary Melinda "Minnie" Clarke, Jan 19th, 1887, in Fulton County Georgia. She is also buried with James at the Ebenezer/Miller Cemetery.

He was the grandson of Robert Sr & Mildred [Whitehead] White, both of Union County South Carolina. His grandfather was a Revolutionary War Veteran.

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James was also a writer and publisher, of his father's music style, and made attempts to change the established style of his father's four note music. He helped prepare the New Sacred Harp 1884 Edition.

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His photo can be found in the Georgia archives, where he is pictured with family, and even a class picture of him with his students.

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They had the following known children:

Mary Burdette---------1888-1946--m. Ewell K Lloyd------Unk date---No known Children
James Henry-----------1890-1958--m. Not married ------ 0000-00----No Known Children
Benjamin Landrum---1890-1963--m. Not married-------0000-00----No Known Children
Thurza Melvina--------1896-1897--m. Not Married--------0000-00----Died as baby
Julian Elijah------------1900-1942--m. Not Married--------0000-00----No Known Children

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James Siblings were:

William--------1826-1901-----------m.1.Lydia Street 1852,2.Lydia Crutchfield-1828
David----------1828-1903------------m. Celeste V Brown------------------------------1852
Robert---------1831-1892------------m. Mary L :Mollie'Mann------------------------1853
Mary----------- 1831-bet1880/90---m. Col William E Adair--------------------------1851
Nancy----------1835-1924------------m. Theodore Henry Byrd----------------------1856
Thurza---------1842-1932------------m. Wesley Brown Mann------------------------1867
Benjamin F---1845-1921------------ m. Ann "Annie" Seymore Cobb--------------1872
James--------- 1847-1925------------m. Mary Melinda Clarke------------------------1887
Martha A------1848-1936-------------m. Rev Elijah H Clarke--------------------------1871

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Obituary found recently May 2013:

Atlanta History Center
Dekalb County Historical Society
Obituary – March 1925
78 – D 3/8

Prof. James Landrum White –
419 So. McDonough St.,
Decatur Ga.

Prominent Georgian and nationally known musician & composer. Born and raised in Hamilton, Harris Co Ga. & spent his entire life in the vicinity of Atlanta. Was youngest son of Major B. F. White of Confederate Army. James who was widely known as author and compiler of "Sacred Harp", a collection of sacred music originally published in book form in Apr 1844. After death of his Father carried on his life work of teaching music and renewd the "Sacred Heart" collection. Leaves wife; 3 sons; Benj. L., Jas. L & Julian E; a dau, Mrs. E K Lloyd & 2 sisters; Mrs. Mattie Clarke & Mrs. A. M. Mann, all of Atlanta. Funeral held from Macedonia Church Interment at Ebenezer Cemetery.

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CENSUS RECORDS:

1850 Harris Co GA Census Hamilton Dist Page 081
ED 5th Nov 1850
439 - 469
Benjamin F White--49 M Music Teacher $132? SC
Thurza----------------45 F-----------------------------SC
William D-------------23-M-----------------------------SC
David P----------------21-M-Music Teacher---------SC
Robert C--------------19-M Farmer-------------------SC
Mary C-----------------09-F----------------------------- SC
Nancy G?--------------15-F-----------------------------SC
Thurzy M---------------07-F-----------------------------SC
Benjamin F------------05-M-----------------------------GA
James L----------------03-M-----------------------------GA
Martha A---------------01-F------------------------------GA

1860 Harris Co GA Census 672nd Dist Page 540
ED 5th Jul 1860 PO Hamilton
247 - 247
B F White-59 M Auth of Sacred Harp $???? $2760 SC
Thurzy----58-F--SC
Thurzy M-17-F--GA
B F---------15-M--GA
Jas L-------13 M--GA
M A---------11-F-- GA
Robert H--28 M--GA
M L----------26 F--GA
W M---------06 M-GA
Thos M-----01 M-GA
M C Adiar--28 F- SC
M W---------07 F--AL

1870 Dekalb Co GA Census Panthersville Dist Page 253b Ancestry: 93
PO Decatur ED 8th Jul 1870 by Joseph Walker, asst Marshal.
255 - 255
White, Benjamin F 69 M W Farmer 150 475 South Carolina
Thurzy-----------------64-F-W-kephse--------------do
Benjamin Jr----------25 M W Farm lab-----------Georgia
James L---------------23 M W Farm lab-------------do
Martha A---------------21-F-W At home-------------do
Adair, Mary C----------39-F W-kephse------------South Carolina
Mary W-----------------18-F-W-At home--------------AL
Byrd, Theodore H---41-M-W--Printer-------------Georgia
Nancy O---------------34--F-W--teaching sch----South Carolina (teaching Atlanta)
Charles P--------------12-M-W--Farm lab-----------Georgia
Nelly L------------------10-F-W--At Home-------------do
Pauline-----------------09-F-W---do--------------------do
Hattie O----------------07-F-W---do--------------------do
Benjamin F------------06 M W---do--------------------do
Minnie------------------05-F-W---do--------------------do
Augustine ?------------03 M-W--do--------------------do

1880 Dekalb Co GA Census Page 12 - 52nd Dist
Lithonia Militia Dist No 683
ED dist 52 - 8th June 1880 by W C Bruce
90 - 98
White, James L W M 33 head-----Farmer---GA SC SC
Charles J---------W M 24 brother-Farm Lab GA SC SC--(son of Wm D White)
Unknown---------W-F-30 half sister----------GA GA GA

1900 Atlanta Fulton Co GA Census
ED Dist 59, Sheet No. 25 B
Taken 14th June 1900. Ward 3
10 375 471
White, James L- Head-W M-Jan-1850 50 M 13-----GA-GA-GA Piano Salesman
Mary----------------Wife-W F-Dec-1869 30 M 13 4 3-GA-GA-GA
Mary B--------------Dau-W F Jan? 1888 14 S---------GA-GA-GA--At School
James H------------Son-W M-Oct--1890 09 S---------GA GA GA-At School
Benjamin W--------Son-W M Oct--1890 09 S---------GA GA GA- At School
Clark, Robt M-Boarder W M May-1874 26 S---------GA GA GA--St Car Matainer? (b/o Mary)
James D--------Boarder W M Mar-1881-19-S--------GA GA GA Plummer?----------(b/o Mary)

1910 Census Atlanta Fulton Co GA Ward 3 Page 8
501 147 188
James L White---head M W 63 M1 23 0 0 GA SC SC Musican Music Store
Minnie M-----------wife--F W 42 M1 23 5 4--GA ?? GA
Mary B---------------dau-F W 22-S------------GA GA GA
Bennie L-------------son M W 15-S------------GA GA GA
James H-------------son M W 15-S------------GA GA GA
Julian E--------------son M W 09-S------------GA GA GA
501 147 189
Clark, Elijah W----head M W 50 M1 28 0 0- GA GA GA
Mattie A-------------wife-M W 42 M1 28 2 2--GA GA GA

1920 Dekalb Co GA twp Atlanta City
ED dist 29 - ED date 6 Jan 1920
sheet 9a - Ferguson Street
162 - 186
White, James L head M W 73--SC GA GA none
Minnie-------------wife F W-66?-GA GA GA none
Mary----------------dau F W 26---GA-SC-GA-BookKeeper
James H-----------son-M W 24---GA-SC-GA-Steam Fitter
B. L.-----------------son M W 24---GA SC GA-Plumber
Julian---------------son M W 18---GA-SC-GA-none
Clarke, Julia-----niece F-W-23---GA GA GA-cashier

Note: After the death of the Parents:
1930 Fulton Co GA 722 Buckhead Dist
Peach Tree Hills, ED Dist 61-146
ED Date Apr 4, 1930, Sheet 42 B, Page 133
2199 81-85
Lloyd, Ewell K---------------head-M-W-37 M 29 GA GA GA
Mary W-------------------------wife--F-W 35 M 27 GA GA GA (dau of James & Mary)
White, Benjamin L--Bro-in-law--M W 38-S-----GA GA GA (son of James & Mary)
White, James H----------do--------M W 38 S-----GA GA GA do
White, Julian E-----------do--------M W 28 S-----GA GA GA do
Booth, Jesse D-----------do--------M W 42 M-----GA GA GA
Booth, Mattie L----------Sister-----F-W 35 M------GA GA GA

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Cemetery Directions:

MILLER FAMILY CEMETERY
(also known as Ebenezer Methodist Church
Cemetery, until its closure, & Miller/Clarke Cemetery & just Ebenezer.)

This cemetery is on Panola Rd in DeKalb County GA at the intersection of Panola Rd and Snapfinger Woods.

GRAVE STONE DISCRIPTION:

Flat granite 2x1 ft cut polished
Dimensions: 4' 9" by 2' 2".

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