Tiane V. White
December 14, 1953 ~ November 7, 2012
Tiane Valerie White (nee McKenney) was born December 14, 1953 in Washington, DC. On November 7, 2012, Tiane joined her mother Avisann and sister Antoinette after an 18 month battle with cancer. She leaves to cherish her memory a loving and devoted husband of thirty years, Clarence (CW); three sons, Marvin, Lamont and Marquette Brooks, a step daughter, Shiryl White, her brother, Ronald "Sonny" McKenney and three grand children Tytianna, Lamont Jr. and Naomi. She also leaves her Aunt Madeline and her Uncle William McKenney, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. These last include Anthony and Shirelle DeWitt, Sunday Farmer, Rhea Shaw, Bakari McKenney, Konota McKenney, Ronald Wills, Kanisha DeWitt, Dyamond Farmer, Sharon Doss and Lorenzo McKenney, and many other relatives and friends.
Tiane grew up just east of the Potomac river in Southwest Washington, DC with her mother, brother and sister and surrounded by many other relatives. She was a member of the SW Drum & Bugle Corps and Drill Team. She also loved to play baseball and basketball and later bowling, and in her youth she was an avid hand dancer.
On May 26, 1982 Tiane married Clarence W. White in Baltimore County, Maryland. Since he was in the military, she was able to travel and experience different cultures. She benefited fully from these opportunities and enjoyed being stationed with her husband in Italy and Japan. A new world opened up for her and she took full advantage of the education and adventure that she found through her travels, making friends with people of all nationalities and visiting numerous countries and locales. Her love for travel continued throughout her life.
After relocating to San Antonio in January 1994, Tiane and Clarence, took annual road trips. This, she said, allowed her to see and experience this 'beautiful country' and to see it with new eyes. She loved to visit military exchange facility in the different states to look around and shop. Over time her favorite destination became Southern Florida. Miami, South Beach and its diverse cultural history fascinated her, and she enjoyed visiting the Florida Keys, Ernest Hemingway's house, nature preserves and the blue water landscapes throughout that area.
Tiane had an active and inquiring mind that went far beyond the traditional education system that she followed through high school. But both her background and her own fertile imagination and interests propelled her forward to educate herself, and she did so, in part by reading many of the great American writers. Throughout her life, Tiane exhibited that rare ability to be straight and forceful in her decisions even as she tempered this strength with wisdom and flexibility. She knew how to bring about change, how to overlook that which needed overlooking and how to embrace a new position with warmth either because she deemed it reasonable or because it was the loving thing to do. Tiane loved her family with passion and was always available to them. When she saw that the recession was affecting her family, the first thought she expressed was "how much room could we provide" in our home?
She was a very private person and did not wish to burden others with the challenges her own life presented. She accepted each impediment with equal measure of strength and grace.
Tiane is loved and will be missed.
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I remember all the Christmas dinners in SW and card nights at Sundays and crab feast what a time I had growning up and just as she smiling in that picture you see she always kept a smile on her face just as bright. .To the family be strong and hold on to one another love is great thing that can always restore giving it showing it and speaking it. To my aunt you will always remain in my mind as the sweet kind person you were until…. family joke…. but no you always had a great personality and loved to laugh God has another good woman on his side now.
A witness: I did not know that I had one until her voice was stilled. If you ask what was witnessed, I will tell you all the joys and griefs of my life. We had almost monthly conversations on the phone and we sometimes spoke for hours at a time, a few times between eight and nine hours. It was a work day but it passed so quickly. I hope that you have found or can find that depth of communication and pleasure with someone in your life. / I never had to turn to her for anything because she was always there for me–and there for anyone in my life, especially my children whom she embraced without asking anything in return. She was like the sunshine, I just had to step out the door to embrace her. And when times were dark, she said come here and I will stand by you, wherever I am and from wherever you are./ Someone from our neighborhood recognized something special about Antoinette, Tiane and myself and when Antoinette passed, I overheard him telling someone that we had a special closeness, something that I had not even recognized but that is borne home to me so strongly now. / I once asked Tiane why she always stood beside me. And she said, “I stand beside you because you are my brother.” I asked because I wanted to understand this kind of love. And I have understood that she was my sister as well, but she was also my friend. And if you are wondering whether I will miss her, I have to say that she brought too much richness for this to be a loss./Every moment brings a decision and this is what I have decided.
(Attempting to stop the tears from flowing down my eyes)I will miss you Tiane.Everytime i remember her face i rememeber that smile almost always being present.I WILL MISS YOU COUSIN TIANE.I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!
Bumbum: All Within His Plan: Sometimes things happen we don’t understand and we begin to question why …. Heartache, pain, disappointment and sorrow just do not pass us by. My eyes filled up with tears as I heard the news. I find myself wishing that it wasn’t real. Every time I think of Tiane. The pain is all I feel. I will love & miss her forever.
Dear mom:
I’m sorry that you had to leave early I have thought of you so often especially when I’m alone, and all though I will always miss you, I know you will be proud of me and cheering me on, where going to miss you, I would just like to tell you how much I appreciate you, and what a great mom you were. Where going to miss that sparkling smile, your caring geans and you rockin your coach bag and tennis shoes to match and glasses, she like glasses
Mom she would always light up a room with her smile, If I needed her she was always their, She was the person I called when had no one to talk to, she would always give me a good laugh and boost up my spirits, No matter what she was always their to comfort me, Even when times where rough she was still by my side, Holidays like Christmas she was always excited about giving to others, She never judged other people, if you had a situation she would give you encouraging scripture words that help solve your problems. She enjoy family and friends togetherness and she liked to cook, travel and shop. We love you and miss youÂ
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Dear Ronald and Family,
I was saddened to hear about Tiane passing. I will never forget the fond memories of Tiane. As a teenager, she was one of the most fun people to be around. She was able to effortlessly make everyone else have a good time. I am glad to have known Tiane. I realize that you have lost a special person.
My earnest prayers and thoughts are always there to help you through the days ahead.
With Love,
Joan
Tiane I will miss you so much. Regardless of the last time I saw you or spoke with you, my love for you remained the same. You were the last of my aunts on my dad’s side and it hurts. I will always remember that millioon dollar smile that brought all the sunshine you could ask for to a room. You always told me that I could do whatever I wanted and don’t have to tell nobody why I chose to do it. You always had my back and never let anyone harm me. I remember I came to visit you in Italy and we had such a wonderful time. You and Clarence were always such wonderful people to be around and you always showed everyone so much love and support. You will be missed a bunch. I will never question God’s work, so you rest now and I love you. Your niece SHAMPOO
To the family, I am so sorry for your loss. I know you all are thankful that you shared her life and her love. I will always remember her unique laugh and her encouraging spirit. Everyone that comes into our life leaves a deposit whether positive or not. As I reflect, Tiane definitely made a positive impression and a great example of how liberating it was to take risks. She boldly embraced the opportunities given to her and her children and moved across the world for new experiences and a new life which she shared with her husband. Her bold actions offered others, including myself, the opportunity to travel the world. For that, I will always be grateful. The last time a saw her was at a historical celebration, the inauguration of President Obama. Today, I celebrate Tiane, her life and her legacy. To God be the Glory, for his will and plan is perfect.