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Mr. Joseph Cranford White, 95, of Mocksville, entered his heavenly home on Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Joe was born in Clemmons on April 13, 1928 to the late Willie Asberry and Mary Lee Sain White. He grew up on a dairy farm milking and tending the cows. Joe learned the value of hard work at a young age, but balanced it with a sense of humor and a zest for life. He enjoyed bird hunting with his dog and fishing during his spare time. Later in life, he enjoyed gardening and raising roses, which he loved sharing with friends and neighbors.

Joe was blessed to meet the love of his life, Hallie Marie Shelton White, while they were students at Farmington School.  They married on Oct. 31, 1947, and enjoyed almost 73 beautiful years together before her passing in 2020.

True to his roots, Joe spent his entire career in the dairy industry.  He started at Biltmore Dairy, working his way up from a route driver delivering milk in glass bottles to people’s homes to a route manager to a sales representative.  A gifted salesman, Joe never met a stranger and treated everyone with equal respect. He retired from Flavorich in 1992.

Joe was a devoted member of Courtney Baptist Church in Yadkinville for more than 60 years and served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, Sunday school superintendent, and sang in the choir. If the church doors were open, he was there for as long as he was physically able.

He also gave his time and talents to benefit the community.  A lifelong member of the Mocksville Lions Club, Joe joined a few months after it chartered and was proud to be its longest and oldest member. Over 66 years, Joe served in local and district offices and was an International Association of Lions Club delegate in 1982. He was recognized as a Jack Stickley Fellow in 1998, Melvin Jones Fellow in 2003, and Lion of the Year in 2004. Joe was equally dedicated to the Farmington Ruritan Club, where he participated in every meeting, project, and fundraiser for as long as he was able.

A kind and gentle soul, Joe will be dearly missed and remembered fondly as a loving husband, father, papaw, and friend.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by a brother, Sanford C. White.

Left behind to cherish his memory are: son, Mark White (Jeanna); granddaughter, Jessica White; sister, Glenda Sapp; sister-in-law, Bettie Smith; brother-in-law, Leonard Shelton (Jean); brother-in-law, Bill Shelton (Patricia); sister-in-law, Irma Jean Shelton; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be conducted at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 4 at Courtney Baptist Church with the Rev. James Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be considered for Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103; or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences: www.lambertfuneralhomenc.com.