John White Valentine

John White Valentine, age 95, of Cleveland, MS slipped away quietly Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Delta Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center of Cleveland.A visitation honoring Mr. Valentine will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024 from 2-3PM at Ray Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow  celebrating a life of Love and Laughter will be held Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 3:00PM at Ray Funeral Home, 206 Bishop Road, Cleveland, MS.

John White was granted his wish to have his body donated to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Later, his wish to be buried in a cardboard box in the Old Cleveland Cemetery will be carried out.

John White was born June 3, 1929, to Mr. and Mrs. Valley (Carmon Eugene and Lucille Henry Valentine) in their home on South Victoria Avenue. He joined his brother Carmon Eugene Valentine.

He attended Hill Demonstration School on the campus of Delta State Teachers College and later Cleveland High School where he helped manage some of the various Wildcat sports teams as well as kept score for numerous games played during this time. He graduated with first honors and entered Delta State Teachers College on a scholarship given by Mrs. Annie Lenoir Cassity. At graduation, he received the first diploma, awarded to the student with the highest score for their class.

Law school at the University of Mississippi followed and upon receiving his degree, he returned to Cleveland and entered the law firm of Valentine and Valentine.

Becoming active in the community, he joined the Chamber of Commerce and once served as the interim director, joined the Lions Club along side his father, joined the Dixie Division of the Army National Guard, was appointed to the Cleveland Library Board, and in 1959 was selected as Cleveland’s Outstanding Young Man. Later he would help found the Whistlestop Playhouse and Crosstie Arts Festival.

In 1961, he married Jonett Sanford in Lambert, MS, and made their first home in an apartment in Cassity Hall. He taught Business Law at Delta State for several years and joined the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

John White was appointed assistant City Attorney in 1961and also served as City Prosecuting Attorney and City Judge. While City Attorney, he helped establish the Cleveland Heritage Commission.

Later he was elected County Prosecuting Attorney and then Bolivar County Judge.

At his death, he was one of the oldest members of the First United Methodist Church of Cleveland.

John White loved helping people, traveling with his family, working the New York Times crosswords and watching on TV Ole Miss football and the Saints and Cowboys.

John White’s legacy of love and laughter will be forever remembered by his wife of 63 years, Jonett Sanford Valentine and his son Christopher John Valentine, as well as his sister-in-law Mary Sanford Collins (Gary), his nephew Alec Valentine and nieces Rose Mary Valentine Ainsworth (Mark) and Suzy Valentine Kolk (Jeff) and a host of loving great and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by his parents Carmon Eugene and Lucille Henry Valentine; brother and sister-in-law Carmon Epton and Ruth Buckner Valentine, niece Nell Elizabeth Valentine Wright and niece-in-law Kay King Valentine.

Donations may be made to Delta State University, Bolivar County Library, Delta Arts Alliance, or the Chinese Museum at Delta State.