09/02/2025
Junie Lee White
Junie L. White passed away on September 1, 2025, in Spartanburg, SC, with Irene, his wife and love of his life, at his side. Irene and Junie were married for 64 years. All of Spartanburg felt the gravity of his passing, as Junie had lifted this town up for so many decades, with his kindness, generosity, and leadership. More than anyone, Junie loved his family and was proud of his children, Adrienne, Alan, Brenda, and Melissa.
He also had a family at White's Pine Street Exxon. Johnny Lee joined the Pine Street family in 1984 when he was 16 years old. His wife Laurie and their children, Macy and Josh, became part of Junie's family. Junie and Johnny became very close over the years and grew a strong business together with powerful ties into the community. Junie was a friend to all. If you needed a dollar, he put five in your back pocket. If you needed someone to talk with, he'd take you for a drive, or over to the Skillet for breakfast. You always knew Junie cared. You never had to ask for help, he could sense it when you needed it and quietly did what he could to solve the problem.
He was born Junius Lee White on September 25, 1937, in Gaffney, South Carolina. He had a brother, Don, and two sisters, Betty and Shirley, all deceased. He grew up a sharecropper, at times in poverty so real there was no food to eat. He drew inspiration from teachers and coaches, who encouraged and sustained his spirit. Even growing up in poverty, he was a natural leader. He was elected president of the student body at Gaffney High School and captain of the football team. Junie believed that getting an education was of highest importance. He didn't have a college education but insisted his four children earn college degrees. He did everything he could to help other children get education, from elementary school through graduate programs, always offering incentives and encouragement. He contributed to many local college scholarship funds, including the Junie L. White Scholarship Fund at Wofford College.
Junie was stationed at Virginia Beach with the US Navy, where he met and fell in love with the beautiful, vivacious Irene Segal. Irene was vacationing from her home in Montreal, and he eventually followed her back to Canada to propose. Irene was from a Jewish family, and Junie grew eager to study and learn the traditions and teachings of Judaism. He converted and practiced for many years and served as past president of Temple B'nai Israel. He and Irene became pillars of the Jewish community, and the temple was yet another family for Junie.
In 2005, when he was 67 years old, Junie realized his dream to serve the community and ran for an open seat on Spartanburg City Council District 4. Always humble, Junie underestimated the impact of his years of kindness and generosity. Community support was overwhelming, with more than 60 volunteers working the night before the election to knock on doors and rally voters. He won that election and every election after for 17 years. Each time he served he did so bravely, making "good trouble", questioning the status quo, and unafraid to ruffle some feathers. After his term on council, he intended to run for reelection until he was approached by city leaders asking him to run for mayor instead. They believed he could be the People's Mayor, a title that has stuck, even in his retirement from public life.
As mayor, Junie White believed that the only way to move forward was to have all voices heard. He believed the seats at the table weren't just for those with money and power. People didn't have to make an appointment to come speak with him, they could go to his Exxon station or walk up on his porch and knock on the door, and he would answer. Early in his first term, he was approached by the leaders of Upstate Pride, asking for a proclamation for the first ever Spartanburg LGBT Day and PRIDE march. Mayor White didn't hesitate, even though leaders before him had refused. Junie never would have predicted the controversy that ensued, but stood up for the LGBTQ community with zeal, letting everyone know Spartanburg welcomes all people. In looking back, Mayor White felt that this act was perhaps his most important act during his tenure as Mayor. In fact, the rainbow flag was flown at the Chamber of Commerce the next year, and as one supporter said, "With that stroke of his pen, the mayor had moved the city forward 20 years."
Junie White received many other honors and awards throughout his life including the Chamber of Commerce Small Businessperson of the Year, the Jefferson Award, the USC Upstate Founder's Day Award, the Wofford Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award honoring excellence of character and humanitarian spirit, the City of Spartanburg Patriot Award, and the highest honor any South Carolina civilian can receive, the Palmetto Award. He never sought awards and shunned praise, preferring to work with organizations that enhanced the quality of life for children and families, especially the Boys and Girls Club.
On a personal level, Junie was a successfully recovering alcoholic and was sober for thirty years. He helped many others get and stay sober through his mentorship, his willingness to listen, and his great ability to see through others’ self-deception and denial. He held people accountable for their actions, but gave everyone second chances. For all his kindness and good works, Junie was a prankster who could barely engage in a conversation without telling a tall tale and cracking many a joke. Junie White died when his heart finally gave out, when it just didn't have any more to give. But not before he shared every little piece of it with thousands of people in his beloved Spartanburg.
Graveside services will be Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.
In memory of Junie, contributions may be made to Mobile Meals of Spartanburg or Boys & Girls Clubs or The Josh Lee Memorial Scholarship.
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