Obituaries

Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Karolyne White Sunday

Karolyne White left a legacy in the field of special education. She was one of the original writers in the codification Massachusetts General Law M.G.L Chapter 766.

Karolyne White, 74,  of Framingham passed peacefully from this life the evening of March 28, 2014, after having fallen into a deep coma.

She was surrounded and supported by her loving daughters, her Pastor and friends during the last hours of her life.

She was born October 12 of 1939 to Daisy Davis Underwood and George Underwood in Birmingham, AL, but has been a New Englander since 1971. 

She left a legacy of service to mankind; in the field of Special Education, as part of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. She was one of the original writers in the codification Massachusetts General Law M.G.L Chapter 766.

Passed in 1972, the first non-categorical law guaranteeing all children the right to a free appropriate public education. Karolyne's own education began in Birmingham, AL where she graduated from A.H. Parker High School and went on to achieve first a Bachelor of Science from Tuskegee University and a later a Master of Science in Education at Adelphi University.

She worked many years in the classroom with Special Needs children followed by years of service to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education.

After retiring from the DOE, she went on to become an active participant in the Mass. Conference of the UCC, Grace Congregational United Church of Christ in Framingham, Stearns farm, and Amazing Things in Framingham. She was also a participant in Just Us (Eliot Congregational Church's Sr. ladies' group).

She is survived by two daughters Sonya White Hope and Audrey White; and son-in-law Al Hope. Karolyne is also survived by her niece Cornelia Brown and grandnieces Eleanor Brown, Erica Brown, and Jamelle Myers; as well as great grandnieces Brianna and Alina Myers. She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph White, brother Maceo Underwood, and sister Corrine Jackson.

A Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Karolyne White will be held on Sunday, April 13 at 12:30 p.m. at The Edwards House Meeting & Retreat Center, One Badger Road in Framingham.

Donations may be made to:
Grace Church, U.C.C.
PO Box 1481
Framingham, MA 01702

Flowers for the service can be sent to:
The Edwards House, One Badger Rd., Framingham


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