Wiggins, MS
Funeral Home
Moore Funeral Home
Visitation
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Service
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on March 19, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joseph Roger White, age 82, Wiggings, MS who had served and worked fulltime at the 213th Medical Brigade and the MS 1108th AVCRAD has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior. Roger was a pilot and also served in the U.S. Navy prior to joining the MSARNG.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, visitation and service details:
Joseph Roger White, 82, of the White’s Crossing, Big Level Community left this world on March 19, 2026, headed for his heavenly home. After bravely battling cancer for over a year, his fight ended shortly after quittin’ time on Thursday, March 19, surrounded by family at UMMC hospital in Jackson, MS.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Reginald “Reg” White and Lou Eva “Eva” Rawls White; brothers and sister-in-law, Jimmy (Margaret) White; Johnny White; Bill White; and Tom White; nieces, Shelly Cochran, Louann White, and infant Emily Anne White.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Tamar (Williamson) White of White’s Crossing, MS; children Josh White of White’s Crossing, MS; Amy (Damian) McKay of Wiggins, MS; and Kristen (Jim) Madsen of Gulf Shores, AL; grandchildren Jackson, Lauren, and Shelby McKay and Tessa and Tama Madsen as well as a loving and extended family including sisters, Nancy Whittington of Benndale, MS, and Anna Carol (Jack) Bufkin of Colorado Springs, CO, sisters-in-law, Mary Kay White of Wiggins, MS and Debbie White of Wiggins, MS along with many wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Roger was born to Reg and Eva at White’s Crossing and his birth was recorded as February 28, 1944. However, he was actually born a leap year baby. Being born February 29th, about 30 minutes after midnight, the doctor said he didn’t want to do that to dad, making him have a birthday only once every four years, so he rolled back the date for him. His siblings always said this leap year was why he always acted younger than his actual age, and if you knew him, you would have to agree.
Roger grew up in a large, loving family of 4 brothers and 2 sisters. His father was a forester, farmer and cattleman and his mother was a school teacher. They instilled in him the importance of hard work and education. He attended Home School, now referred to by some as B.L.U. or Big Level University that still resides across from Big Level Baptist Church. He graduated at the age of 16, being promoted through 2 grades, then continued on to Perkinston Junior College, now known as Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. After graduation from Perk, Roger was appointed by MS Senator John C. Stennis in 1962 to attend the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
While in Annapolis, Roger met the love of his life, Tamar, and two years later on December 19, 1966, they eloped to Eight-Mile, Alabama. Roger and Tamar went on to have a full life together, traveling as a military family cross-country from Florida to California and finally Texas, where their first 2 children were born.
During his time with the Navy, Roger had many adventures in the Philippines and Hong Kong with 2 tours during the Vietnam War. He flew mail to the sailors on all of the aircraft carriers stationed in the Pacific. He also received the Naval Centurion Award, landing successfully over 100 times on the Ticonderoga before its decommission. He and Tamar made many lifelong friends and countless memories during his Naval years.
After retiring from the Navy, Roger moved his family to Rayville, Louisiana, becoming a crop dust pilot, then finally decided that raising his family in his home town would be the best course for their future. This is where his youngest child was born. While he lived in Wiggins, Roger went back to flying for the Army National Guard, traveling to Alaska, St. Croix, and Germany. He flew in the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1999 to 2000, and retired from the Guard at 60 years old.
Always an entrepreneur, Roger found success being a real estate investor and developer, a property manager, and hauling dirt across south Mississippi. Other adventures that were fun, but not nearly as lucrative, were operating amateur helium weather balloon rides, wrangling alligators, driving limos, and instructing water skiing enthusiasts. Though all of his experiences are interesting and noteworthy, what Roger truly excelled at was being a remarkable husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
Roger loved cooking cornbread, jambalaya, and pecan pies and having his family over to eat and visit. Many hours were spent sitting on the front porch while they were waiting for the deer to come out. Although he was constantly on the go, Roger was never too busy to stop in for a piece of pie with one of his aunts and later enjoyed taking along a grandchild or 2 for a visit. Growing up with Roger as a father was always exciting, and he prioritized time spent relaxing with his family. He was a hard worker but always planned times for skiing at the reservoir, floating the creek, and even taking cross-country driving trips or to go snow skiing.
Roger was a man of strong opinions and stood behind his decisions, albeit questionable to some. For example, he knew exactly what to wear when you meet your daughter’s boyfriend. He also offered unsolicited advice to his children, guiding them to what “the shrewd thing” would be when making life choices, or explaining that “only an idiot” would not follow his advice. Such sage wisdom could not be argued with.
One of Roger’s greatest joys in life came from being a grandfather. He spent many happy times rocking and dancing his grandbabies to country music songs, taking them to run the hay bales, going on bike rides, teaching them to drive, and even quick dump truck drives to McDonalds for a hot fudge sundae and coffee. He was his happiest during these moments.
Roger was a real character and a true individual. Funny and hard working, he was also extremely generous and kind to others. He never sought attention for such deeds or any acknowledgement for his generosity. He didn’t talk about his faith but instead lived it every day. We are comforted to know that Roger is now at peace in the arms of our Lord, Jesus Christ and reunited with deeply loved family, especially his parents and brothers, Jimmy, Johnny, Bill, and Tom.