Dempsey Josiah White

Dempsey Josiah White, age 86, passed away on April 25, 2026, in the arms of his loving family. He was born on January 27, 1940, in Perquimans County, North Carolina, to the late John Quincy White and Bessie Gregory White.

Dempsey married his high school sweetheart, Pauline White, and together they shared more than 62 years of love, laughter, and companionship until her passing in January 2026. Their life together was a beautiful example of partnership and enduring love.

Dempsey devoted his career to the United States Postal Service, beginning as a mail carrier in Alexandria, Virginia. Through hard work and dedication, he rose through the ranks to serve in leadership roles, including Postmaster of Vienna, Virginia, and Alexandria, Virginia, and later held positions at the Merrifield Sectional Center before retiring. Even after decades of retirement, he was always happy to share his deep knowledge of the complexities of postal operations whenever friends or family voiced complaints about missing mail.

In retirement, Dempsey embraced his most cherished role and most prestigious title: Gpa. His world revolved around his granddaughter, Lauren, and their bond was truly something special. His “GPA ROKS” license plate perfectly summed up his legacy, because Dempsey was a grandfather like no other.

For the last 15 years, Dempsey’s days centered around Lauren. He made sure her every need was met, and he would not have had it any other way. He beamed with pride in her presence and treasured every moment they spent together, no matter how ordinary the activity. He loved making her breakfast before school and proudly told everyone he was her “bus driver.” From preschool through high school, he made sure she got to school every morning, had a ride home every afternoon, and, of course, always had an after-school snack waiting. One of his greatest wishes was to see Lauren graduate from high school. Though he passed before that day could come, his family takes comfort in knowing he will be there in spirit, smiling down with the same pride and love he showed her every day.

In addition to being an amazing father and grandfather, Dempsey was a truly special person. He never met a stranger and had a gift for making people feel welcomed, appreciated, and cared for. He was kind, gracious, and generous in ways both big and small. Snacks were truly his love language. Whether he was sharing treats with the neighborhood children at Lauren’s bus stop or offering something sweet to those who helped him over the years, these simple gestures reflected the warmth, thoughtfulness, and gentle spirit that defined him.

Dempsey is survived by his daughter, Tanya Nass; his granddaughter, Lauren Nass; and his son-in-law, Doug Nass. He is also survived by one sister, Bessie Dean Spence; and two brothers, Thomas Preston “Charlie” White and his wife, Nancy, and Hersey “Bootsie” White. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pauline White and his brothers, James G. White, Sr. and John Q. White, Jr.

Dempsey will be remembered for his generous heart, his unwavering devotion to his family, his gentle spirit, and the joy he brought to so many lives. He showed his love not only through words, but through steady presence, thoughtful gestures, daily acts of care, and a life lived in service to the people he treasured most. His love was dependable, joyful, and constant.

Though his family will miss him deeply, they will carry him with them always—in every act of kindness, every shared snack, every school-day memory, every story retold, and every reminder that love is often found in the simple things we do for one another. Dempsey’s life was a blessing, his memory a comfort, and his legacy a lasting example of what it means to love fully, give generously, and care faithfully.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on May 14, 2026, from 10:00AM to 11:00AM at Money & King Funeral Home, followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00AM.  Burial will be held at Quantico National Cemetery at 2:00PM