Remembering Bishop Frank Otha White
(1940-2017)
Remembering Bishop Frank Otha White
(1940-2017)
Senior Pastor, Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ
Freeport, New York
Brilliantly favored among noble men, South Carolinian native Bishop Frank Otha White was the principal architect of the towering Freeport landmark, the Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ whose royal structure stands tall across the skyline of Long Island’s South Shore in New York.
Under Bishop White’s more than 47 years of the pastorate, Zion’s membership has grown to well over 1,500, actively involved in more than 25 fully operational ministries for children, youth, adults, singles, couples, senior citizens and the entire family. Along with this visible contribution to the religious community, Bishop White was admired as both a spiritual father and friend to the entire ecumenical community, respected for enlisting fellowship with Long Island’s largest representation of Christian organizations, religious bodies, and inter-faith endeavors.
Known for his visionary predisposition, Bishop White was the Founding Chief Executive Officer of the Cedarmore Corporation -- the subsidiary Social Services Arm of Zion Cathedral specializing in youth-related educational activities. He was also Founding President of the
Conference of Clergy of Long Island. The scope of service Bishop White fulfilled with distinction continues to upon every vital theme of Long Island Life: From his contribution as a benefactor of the Freeport High School Scholarship Committee to his sponsorship of the Economic Opportunity Council Summer Basketball Team for Boys.
Bishop White, who held the distinction of Honorary Deputy Mayor of Freeport, is the recipient of a broad library of citations and awards from nearly every level of government, business, religion, education, civic life, and community relations. Among these awards is the Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Award for Distinguished Community Service awarded by the Freeport Human Relations Committee.
In recognition of Bishop White’s distinguished contribution to the Church, he was honored him with the Charles Harrison Mason Award named for the Church’s Founding Father. In 2008, Bishop White was elected by the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ to serve on the General Board. His re-election in 2012 was favored with Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake’s appointment of Bishop White as Assistant Secretary of the General board.
From the upstate borders of New York extending to the farthest points of eastern Long Island – more than 500 miles covered by his jurisdictional oversight – Bishop White was known as a genuine, true-hearted public servant, a highly respected colleague in civic circles, and a trusted, deeply influential dignitary among his constituents – a prolific theologian, a benevolent philanthropist, a widely cited expositor, a published scholar, and a religious educator, Bishop White, upon every frontier, passionately moved every enterprise and harnessed every resource to cultivate a stronger society.
Bishop White and his lovely wife of 56 years, Dr. Juliet L. White were blessed with one son, Bishop FrankAnthone, four accomplished daughters, and the grandparents of five.
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