Tanner White

On Saturday, my dear friend Tanner White was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church (see pic).

Yesterday, he passed. It was a tragic accidental passing. He was 36 years old. We all are shattered. His wife Mallory, two young children, mother, father, family, friends, covenant clergy brothers, church, and broader community are in shock and grief stricken. There are times for attempting to wrap words around tragedy, and that time is not now.

Three ways to be supportive. (1) Support the family through this link: https://www.supportnow.org/the-white-family (2) Send your prayers and positive thoughts. Mallory and the kids will need you in the days, weeks, and months to come, especially after the memorial and as people return to their regular rhythms. (3) Stay tuned for Tanner’s Memorial which will be at Hyde Park UMC. More details in the near future.

Tanner profoundly impacted my life and many others’ lives. We met when he was 23. It was seemingly a chance meeting right outside of the Tampa Convention Center at the 2011 The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. I decided to leave early. He was walking in as I was walking out. The chance meeting wasn’t. We became close quickly. I was honored to be a guide and mentor early in his journey, and walk with him and Mallory during their premarital process. Our relationship shifted to a deep friendship where he guided me as much as I him. He joined my small group Hyde Park United Methodist Church and later went to seminary. He joined our clergy covenant group. Last Wednesday, we met to connect, celebrate, pray, and share our lives. As we always did, we laughed hard.

If you have been impacted by Tanner’s life, please consider emailing me at justin @ theportico . org or through pm. Here’s an article: https://www.flumc.org/newsdetail/flumc-mourns-the-loss-of-rev-tanner-white-gifted-pastor-husband-father-and-friend-18396892