John "J.P." White Jr.

John Pershing “J.P.” White, Jr. of Chestertown, Maryland died suddenly on March 25, 2006 at his home, he was 57. He was born in Queen Anne, Maryland on April 29, 1948, the son of the late John P. Sr. and Kathryn Spence White. He was a 1966 graduate of Centreville High School and served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a reservist until 1972 when he was honorably discharged. Mr. White was inducted into the Maryland State Police in 1969. He served with the Salisbury Barrack for a few years and most of his career with the Centreville Barrack. Sgt. White later oversaw the Talbot County Drug Task Force until his retirement in 1994. Following his retirement he went to work with Epilepsy Foundation, then Queen Anne’s County District Court as Bailiff. Mr. White was currently employed as Investigator with the Kent County States Attorney Office. He enjoyed antiquing, collecting and restoring model sailing ships, camping and watching basketball. He had a lifelong love of softball and in 2001 was inducted as a member of the ASA Modified Softball Hall of Fame, a sport in which he was still participating. He was also a member of the Maryland Troopers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, and served as secretary with the Queen Anne’s County Over-40 Softball League. He is survived by a son Joseph Gregory and his wife Donna White of Centreville, MD, along with two grandchildren Samantha and Hailey White. He is also survived by his long time companion Marge Slama of Chestertown, MD and her children: David Justin Slama of NY and Jennifer Slama of Chestertown, MD, two sisters: Patricia Tarr of Chester, MD and Jacquelin O’Leary of Melbourne, FL, two brothers: William White of Centreville, MD and Arnold Smith of Boynton Beach, FL. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 30, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 130 Speer Road, Chestertown, MD where relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, March 29th between the hours of 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. and on Thursday one hour prior to the service (12-1). Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery near Chestertown, MD. Memorial contributions to help support his fellow law enforcement officer, Roger Layton, the victim of a severe house fire, may be made to The Layton Family Relief Fund, c/o Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #118, P.O. Box 254, Denton, Maryland 21629.