Beverly Divers-White

Dr. Beverly Divers-White, of Little Rock a dedicated global leader in educational empowerment, passed away June 21, 2016, after a joyous life. White, 70 was an educator, trendsetter, entrepreneur, non-profit executive, community/global leader and a professional mentor. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, June 27, at First Baptist Church, 901 Calhoun St., Little Rock, Ark. White's only child Samuel "Sam" D. White, Jr., (Leticia) of Duluth, Georgia, described his mother as "one of the nation's pioneer educators who cared deeply about the welfare of other people, her family and her community. White was born on September 25, 1945, in Little Rock, Ark. As a child she enjoyed singing with friends and traveled around to local churches. She connected with her public speaking talent at a very young age; she had the unique ability to deliver passages from memory profoundly. She graduated from Horace Mann Senior High School and attended Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she majored in English and History. After college, she went on to work for the Economic Opportunity Agency as the Supervisor of Neighborhood Study Centers. White continued her education at the University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Ark., University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel and spent two summers at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, receiving graduate degrees in Counseling and later a doctorate in Educational Administration. During 1969, she began her career with the Little Rock School District serving in multiple roles: English and Social Studies teacher at the historical Central High School, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services, Supervisor of Human Relations/Staff Development, Assistant Principal, Henderson Junior High School, Interim, Assistant Principal Central High School, Administrative Assistant, Curriculum and Instruction and Associate Superintendent for Curriculum, Research and Development. Later during 1989 to 1993, White proudly served as the Superintendent for the Lee County School District, Marianna, Ark. From 1991 to 1992, she was an Adjunct Professor, College of Education, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 1993 she began her career with the Foundation for the Mid-South serving as the Senior Program Manager, Vice President for Programs and Vice President/Director COO. Currently, she served as an Adjunct Professor, Clinton School of Public Service, President, BSW Consulting and Chair, AR Cradle to Prison Pipeline Initiative. White had numerous professional and community involvements: Hazen Foundation, New York City, Just Communities of Central Arkansas, Southern Growth Policies Board, United States Civil Service Commission (Arkansas), Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Arkansas Alliance of Black School Educators, National Alliance of Black School Educators Southeastern Council of Foundations, Council on Foundations, Association of Black Foundation Executives, National Office on Black Philanthropy, Greater Little Rock Citizens Group, Little Rock School District – Closing the Achievement Gap and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff – Literacy Initiative. White began her international travel and work experiences during the summer of 1986 throughout 2004. Her trips included: Jerusalem, Israel, where she learned how to implement the Home Instructional Program for Pre-School Youngsters (HIPPY) in Arkansas as a model supported by then Governor Bill Clinton. The program was implemented within the Little Rock School District and utilized throughout the state of Arkansas. Bridgetown, Barbados where she learned about the public education system in the country. Montego Bay, Jamaica, she participated as a volunteer consultant with a team including the Vice President of Jamaica on how to do community development in severely impoverished communities in the rural areas outside Montego Bay. Stuttgart and Berlin Germany, she participated in a study to examine how the German system of technical education might be implemented in Mississippi. Manila, Palale, Nueva Ecija-Province and Cababnatuan in the Philippines, she studied the Participatory Human Development model of community development on behalf of the Mid-South and Walton Foundations. Nairobi, Kisumu and Koru in Kenya, she studied the Participatory Human Development (PHD) model of community development in East Africa for Outreach International. Beijing and Surrounding Rural Towns in China, she served as a resource to Non-Governmental Organizations who were developing strategies for addressing the health, work and overall human/social needs of rural women in economically developing communities in China. Sao Paulo and Rural areas in Brazil, she served as a team member with the staff and Board of the Foundation for the Mid-South as she studied the role of philanthropy in alleviating poverty in rural and urban communities in Brazil. Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Rural Areas in South Africa, she served as a team member with the staff and Board of the Foundation for the Mid-South as she studied the role of philanthropy in alleviating poverty in South Africa. She was an active member of First Baptist Church and in many communities, education and civic organizations. She has received numerous awards, including the Martin Luther King Community Service Award, Arkansas Volunteer Award, Arkansas Outstanding Professional Woman of Distinction Award Worthen Bank, Arkansas Association for Educational Leadership, Leadership/Service Award, Numerous plaques, certificates, news articles, and five television documentaries of commendation/recognition both national and international. Her publications include "The Potential Impact of Arkansas Standards on Educationally Disadvantaged Children" – Save the Children, 1985, "Combating the Educational Genocide of Black Boys", 1985 (Revised, 1986), "Goal Focus and Building Level Leadership in Education: Knowledge and Skills Identified by the Delphi Technique" – Dissertation Title, 1986. White is preceded in death by her mother, Rosa Hawkins; father Arthur J. Divers, Sr. In addition to her son, Samuel, White is survived by her brother, Dr. Arthur Divers, Jr. (Bernice) of Detroit, Michigan; one grandchild, Mya Willams, Duluth, Georgia; a special cousin, Ruth Butler; and a host of other relatives, friends and neighbors she knew throughout her life. Services are entrusted to Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester Street, Little Rock, Ark., 501.372.1305. "For You…A Memory Honored…A Service Treasured…" Viewing services will be held Sunday, June 26, 2016, 3-5 p.m., at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, June 27, 2016, 1 p.m., at First Baptist Church, 901 Calhoun St., Little Rock, Ark. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations may be made to the Dr. Beverly Divers-White College Scholarship Fund at P.O. Box 17654, Little Rock, Ark. 72222.