Fanny Lou White
Fannie Lou White was an African American woman who paved her way and left an impact on the Auburn community. Married to Henry White, they had one daughter, Ethel “Effie” Mae White together. Born to Eugene and Sallie Mitchel in July 1885, Fannie Lou had at least nine other siblings, Paul being the oldest while Lucious, Clare, and George were a few of the younger ones. Fannie was educated through grade 8. Her mother Sallie Cobb Mitchell was a washer and ironer who was a native South Carolinian. On the contrary to most families at the time, it was actually her mother who owned Fannie’s childhood home. When it comes to her father, it is unknown what occupation he obtained, but it is known he was born in Alabama and passed away before she was 15. Both parents were uneducated but could speak English, read and write informally. As Fannie got older, she married Henry in 1902 in her mother’s house. Henry was a painter and they eventually resided at 412 Bragg Ave in 1910. Their house valued at $3,000, which was quite a bit more than the typical home in the area. Effie was born in 1905, only three years after Fannie and Henry got married. Fannie’s occupation included being a washer/ironer (1900), a laundress (1910), and a maid for Auburn University (1940). Fannie was very generous and hospitable as seen through the knowledge of her housing a teacher, Maurice Avery, in their own home for many years. He worked at Lee County Training School which was one of the first schools here in the Auburn area. Fannie’s gravesite is located on the northwest edge of Baptist Hill Cemetery, where she has rested since 1965. Her husband, Henry passed away in 1952 after 50 years of marriage and 13 years before Fannie died.
Contributed by Ali and Meredith from Auburn High School