Bishop James Odell White, Dd Sr.

Bishop James Odell White, Sr., was born to the late William and Myrtle Hodge White on September 22, 1933, in Wilmington, Delaware. He passed away peacefully at Christiana Care Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware on September 3, 2022 at the age of 88 surrounded by his beloved family and friends.

He was educated in the Wilmington, Delaware public school system. He attended Howard High School in Wilmington, Delaware and then enlisted in the United States Navy from 1951-1954. Bishop White has often told stories of his days of working on Navy vessels. One of the most exciting stories Bishop White told was being a Fleet Champion in the Welterweight Division while serving on the USS Midway. He detailed what proper preparation could do, as well as lack thereof and the consequences. It was also during this time while in the Navy he was able to financially help support his family at home.

He received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy and returned home where he began working at various local businesses; Bancroft Mills, Chrysler and ultimately retiring from the United States Postal Service in 1992.

Bishop White was determined to stay single until God gave him a wife. One day while sitting in Church, God showed him his wife. This young lady was Ernestine Katherine Roberts. They were united in holy matrimony on December 29, 1962 on a very snowy day. Odell and Ernestine changed from their wedding clothes and helped clean the church. To this union, four children were born. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

Bishop White has been a part of the church his entire life. There were two major influences in his life growing up, his mother Myrtle White and his older sister (Bishop) Josephine Jones. Bishop White often talked about the impact that Pastor Lois B. Davidson had on his life while he was in the Navy. He knew that even though he had not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior, his family and pastor were praying for him. When he would come home from the Navy, he would often go by Pastor Davidson's home, and she would pray for him. It wasn't until after he returned home permanently from the Navy that he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1954. Bishop White told the story of listening to the preaching of Bishop Mary E. Jackson and was drawn to the altar. He testified about the spirit of pride and how God had to take that out of his life. It was on the day he received the Holy Ghost that he rolled in the floor and broke a pair of gold cufflinks that he had purchased in Barcelona, Spain.

Bishop White worked and served diligently in the church. Under the leadership of Bishop Jackson, he was ordained a deacon in 1963. Being called to the ministry he preached his trial sermon in 1964, which was titled "It's Supper Time." He later became an Evangelist, and an Ordained Elder in Mt. Sinai Holy Churches of America, Inc. (MSHCA). During his ministry, he started a local TV program known as "The Bible Stands" on a local network. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and started the Sunday School Choir at his home church. Having a heart to serve, he availed himself to the national church of MSHCA, as the Vice President of the National Youth Convention and as State Representative for Delaware. He served on the Convocation Planning Committee, Board of Presbyters, and was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2003. He served as the Mid-Atlantic District Workers Meeting President and then, Presiding Elder. In 2011 he was consecrated to the Bishopric and appointed Chaplain of MSHCA. In 1992 he became the first male pastor of Bethel Pentecostal Church and served faithfully for 30 years. During his tenure Bishop White has affected many lives and many souls have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal savior under his ministry. Immediately after being installed as pastor, he encouraged the church to begin beautifying the house of God. As a result, the members got behind him. A new HVAC system and boiler were installed, new inclinator (elevator), a new roof, the purchase of the adjacent property as well as numerous other projects. These are just a few of his accomplishments as pastor. All of this still does not include the financial blessing he was to the church and other ministries.

In 1976, Bishop Odell White graduated from Manna Bible Institute. He received his Doctorate of Divinity from Jameson Bible Institute located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1998. In August of 2006, he was nominated by Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker for the Faith-Based Service Award. On October 4th of that year, he was honored and received that award during a ceremony at the Louis L Redding City County Building.

Bishop White was known as a Man of God, who loved God, God's Word, God's House, and God's people. He was faithful in the delivery of his duties as a pastor, preaching and teaching about the "Ministry of Excellence" and "Ministry of Presence." He identified himself as a friend and would answer the phone saying, "This is Pastor White everybody's friend." He loved his wife dearly and was a devoted husband. He was a caring and devoted father and grandfather who sacrificed tirelessly to provide for his family often working multiple jobs. He was multitalented, as a chef (homemade spaghetti sauce, vegetable soup, 3-layer cakes, lemonade, iced tea, fried fish, crabs, and turkey), as a lover of music he was a gifted singer and songwriter. Bishop White sang all the time. He was an avid reader with an extensive library and delighted in sharing knowledge with others. In his youth, Bishop White enjoyed playing sports. He was very good at basketball, baseball, swimming and boxing. His desire at one point in time was to try out for the New York Giants baseball team. Bishop White loved his family. He enjoyed going on vacations and spending the holidays especially Christmas with his loved ones. On Christmas Eve, the family would have prayer, read the scriptures of the birth of Christ, and share testimonies before opening gifts.

God manifested His healing in Bishop Odell White's life over and over again! Bishop would share the testimony throughout his life of how God healed him of lung cancer. He would also be healed of and sustained in many other medical conditions, including ANCA vasculitis, open heart surgery, end-stage renal disease (dialysis), ileostomy and bilateral below knee amputations. God extended Bishop James Odell White's life until He called him into His presence on September 3, 2022.

Bishop White was predeceased by his late siblings Sarah Goffigan, Bishop Josephine Jones, William White, L'Overture White, Betty Jane Fountain, Felix White, Pezavia White, Sr., his brothers-in-law Elder John Nichols, Sr., David Ward and Charles Fountain, his sisters-in-law Ellen Bullock and Lucille White.

He leaves to mourn his devoted wife, Ernestine K. White; his children James White, II (Andrea), John White, Sr. (Sonya), Diane White, Joel White (Casandra); his grandchildren: John White, Jr., Brittney White, Morgan Reeves, Courtney White, Whitney White, Danielle White, Ahmir Crosby, and Jordan Coleman; his great-grandchildren: Faith White, Lailah Reeves-Williams, Ava Reeves-Williams, Amyra Redwine, Amiya Redwine, Maya Reeves-Williams; his two sisters June Ward and Gloria Nichols, sister-in-law Mary White, and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, godchildren, adopted sons and daughters, Bethel Pentecostal Church Family, the Mt. Sinai Holy Church of America family and friends.

Zoom Live Stream Details for 9/17/22 Musical Celebration
When: September 17, 2022 02:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Zoom Live Stream Details for 9/18/22 National Service of Victory
When: September 18, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoIIMITxK Previous Events


Lie in State


SEP 17. 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (ET)

Bethel Pentecostal Church
2300 North Pine Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

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Musical Celebration


SEP 17. 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (ET)

Bethel Pentecostal Church
2300 North Pine Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

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Public Viewing


SEP 18. 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (ET)

Bethel Pentecostal Church
2300 North Pine Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

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National Service of Victory


SEP 18. 4:00 PM (ET)

Bethel Pentecostal Church
2300 North Pine Street
Wilmington, DE 19802

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Military Honors & Committal


SEP 19. 11:00 AM (ET)

Gracelawn Memorial Park
2220 North Dupont Highway
New Castle, DE 19720

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