Uncrowned Community Builders

Joseph White was the son of Evelyn Griffin and Joseph Sidney White. He was born on December 28, 1933. He successfully completed his secondary education at Birmingham, Alabama's Immaculata High School in 1952. Following in the footsteps of his father, a World War II veteran, Joseph volunteered to serve in the United States Navy where he received what may be considered a more valuable education; experiencing the ways of the world. As a result he came to realize not just the value of service but his responsibility to contribute to the betterment of his community.
After his discharge from the Navy, Joseph returned home but joined the Great Migration and settled in Buffalo, New York where he found employment with the United States Postal Services. Again, he emulated his father, who had also been employed by the Postal Service. As a result of loyal friendships built with fellow USPS coworkers, Joseph was introduced to a beautiful young woman. Lavada Vails or L.V., as she was known to her family and Joseph were married on June 25, 1960. Together they have three children, Leticia, Jarett and Everett and three grandchildren.
Following his marriage, Joseph enrolled in night school and secured a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Canisius College with a minor in Theology. This accomplishment enabled him to embark on an entrepreneurial journal as a Certified Financial Planner with the company known as Investor's Diversified Services. Joseph was named in Who's Who in Finance & Industry.
In line with his commitment to service, he remained active in his community by aligning himself with organizations such as the Community Action Organization as Franchise Officers; the Black Development Foundation as Business Officer and a Board member and Silver Life member of the Buffalo Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Joseph would also share his expertise in fiancÃ?© with his community by, for example, becoming a regularly feature contributor and editor of the "Personal Finance" column in the Buffalo Challenger, one of the few remaining African American owned, operated and oriented newspapers. In 2006 after 38 years in business, Joseph retired from Ameriprise Financial with visions of a slower paced life for himself and his wife, Lavada. He remained active through his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc, the William-Emslie YMCA and extensive domestic travel that their former hectic lives would not accommodate.