Mr. Harvey Ricky White, II

Harvey Ricky White II, known fondly as Ricky, was born on April 2, 1961 in Kinston, North Carolina to Harvey and Carolyn White. Remembered for his energetic spirit and remarkable talents, Ricky was a cherished figure who could captivate any room with his powerful singing voice and musical prowess on the clarinet and saxophone. An early walker, at just 6 months old, he showed an innate propensity for running, a skill that would shape his future significantly. In his teens, Ricky was heralded as the fastest athlete in North Carolina in the 100-meter dash, ranked second fastest in the 200-meter dash in 1979, and earned state champion status. His summers were spent traveling across the southeast for Junior Olympics events, with two appearances at the National Junior Olympics at the University of Nebraska. Ricky's athletic journey continued at Hagerstown Community College, Maryland in 1979, where his track exploits earned him an induction into the Hagerstown Sports Hall of Fame. A full scholarship took Ricky to Eastern Kentucky, where he continued to excel in track while majoring in Mass Communications, moonlighting as a DJ and becoming an eminent member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity's IOTA DELTA chapter, known by the line name "Mandingo". In a light-hearted moment during his college years, he even considered a career as a weatherman. His exceptional talent on the track was recognized with numerous accolades, including NCAA All American, Pan Am Game Finalist, Olympic Qualifier, and he still holds certain records. In 2016, he received the honor of being inducted into Eastern Kentucky University's Athletics Hall of Fame, a proud moment he shared with his wife and daughters. After qualifying twice, Ricky's dreams of competing in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics were dashed due to boycotts, causing the greatest disappointment in his athletic journey. Prior to his return to North Carolina, he was offered a chance to try out for the New England Patriots as a running back, but his Olympic dreams held him steadfast. Returning to his roots in 1986, Ricky met and fell in love with Ellean (Ena) Berry. Their enduring union of 37 years brought them five children: Ricky (Roshanna), Ashley (Tommy), Robert, Anastasia (Karina), and Vincent. A visionary and ahead-of-his-time entrepreneur, Ricky excelled in the IT sector, specifically in Networking. With his children expressing an interest in track, Ricky returned to his roots, founding Xing Xing International, a track team in which his children participated. In recent years, he showcased his culinary abilities through Rick's Gourmet BBQ, serving his community with much relish. Battling an illness since 2010, Ricky demonstrated unyielding resilience and bravery until he drew his last breath at 9:44pm on June 14, 2023, with Ena and Ashley by his side. He is survived by his wife, children, five beloved grandchildren: Amari, Olivia, Myles, Thyseen, and Noah, his parents, his brothers Demeco (Angela), Martin (Jessica),sisters Tonya (Ray), Kim, along with a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and fraternity brothers. Celebration of Life Services for Mr. Harvey R White, II will be held on Friday, June 30, 2023 at 1:00PM. These services will be recorded and streamed live. If the event is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire event will be uploaded and available to view later in the day. Please copy and paste the link to share, or simply click on the link to view the event. https://vimeo.com/event/3533211

Tributes

Mr. Harvey Ricky White, II

April 2, 1961 - June 14, 2023