A little over a century ago, a Tornado swept through Jacksonville, Florida. However, this was no ordinary Tornado. This Tornado came in the form of a little Black lady by the name of EARTHA M.M. White. By the time she died in 1974,she had accomplished quite a bit! From establishing a Mercy Hospital for tuberculosis, to helping found a half-way house for alcoholics in recovery, to creating a Boy’s improvement club, to help curve juvenile delinquency. You name it, there wasn’t much that she left untouched! Additionally, Eartha was instrumental in getting the land & lumber donated to build the first public school for Negroes in the Black community of Bayard, in 1899. Also, before her adopted mother, Clara White died in 1920, they started the Clara White Old Folks Home. Eartha M.M. White was born on November 8, 1876 in Jacksonville, Florida. She ended up getting adopted by a Black lady name Clara White. In 1893, Eartha graduated from Stanton High School in Jacksonville. In 1896, she returned to being Jacksonville, after being away for 3 years,due to the yellow fever breakout. She continued her studies and graduated from Florida Baptist Academy. Later when the school was built in Bayard, Eartha taught at the school for about 16-18 years. Eartha M.M. White died on January 18,1874 in Jacksonville, Florida at the ripe old age of 97!
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