Raleigh Richardson White, Sr.
Temple, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(August 9, 1840 - January 11, 1919) Born to a wealthy Missouri plantation family, Raleigh R. White joined the Confederate army, against his father's wishes, at age 21. During his service White fought under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and made a lifelong friend of fellow soldier J. B. Gambrell. In 1863 Raleigh married Annie Davidson (1844-1902), a family friend of Gambrell's. By war's end, White was acting as colonel of his company on Forrest's recommendation. His life began to change dramatically when the young soldier, through the influence of his devout wife and their friend Gambrell, joined the Baptist church in 1869. He began a medical practice in Mississippi in 1870, but soon found himself drawn to the ministry. Ordained in 1873, White soon was an influential preacher and member of Baptist associations. In 1882, the Rev. Raleigh R. White and his large family moved to Texas. White continued his ministry, often traveling to serve three churches at once. Always active in association work, he was particularly interested in seminaries, missions, and denominational work with African Americans. Annie White died of heart failure in Temple in 1902. Two years later, the couple's oldest son, Dr. Raleigh R. White, Jr., opened Temple Sanitarium, later renamed Scott & White Memorial Hospital, with his medical partner. The elder White carried on his work as an itinerant preacher. When he died in 1919, his lifelong comrade J. B. Gambrell, then president of the Southern Baptist Convention, wrote a eulogy for the Baptist Standard. (1998)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born to a wealthy Missouri plantation family, Raleigh R. White defied his father to join the Confederate army at 21, serving under Nathan Bedford Forrest and rising to acting colonel. A religious conversion after the war redirected his life: ordained a Baptist minister in 1873, he moved his large family to Texas in 1882 and became an influential itinerant preacher, active in seminaries, missions, and Baptist work among African Americans. His son later founded the Temple hospital that grew into Scott & White.
Why it matters
White's journey from Confederate soldier to Baptist minister mirrors the religious and social remaking of the post-Civil War South.
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Related people
- · Raleigh Richardson White, Sr.
- · Nathan Bedford Forrest
- · J. B. Gambrell
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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