Remembering Mayor Junie White: The People’s Mayor of Spartanburg
- CUBNSC
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | September 15, 2025
Spartanburg, SC – On Sunday, community members, civic leaders, and family gathered at the Spartanburg Community College Downtown Evans Campus to honor the late Mayor Junie White, affectionately remembered as the “People’s Mayor.” The memorial included a short documentary featuring White’s own words, warm reflections from friends and colleagues, and a city proclamation recognizing his legacy.
Junie White: A Legacy of Inclusion and Courage
White, who led Spartanburg with integrity and conviction, is remembered for his courage to stand with marginalized communities. In 2010, he issued the city’s first LGBTQ proclamation and later marched in the Pride Festival—decisions that drew both praise and pushback but have since become embedded in Spartanburg’s civic culture .
Representative Rosalyn Henderson Myers, who now serves Spartanburg in the South Carolina House and followed in her father’s footsteps on City Council, reflected on the significance of White’s leadership. “At a time when some voices urged silence or retreat, Mayor White’s courage to speak affirmatively about the dignity of all people shone through,” she said. “He showed us that leadership means not just what’s easy, but what’s right. For someone like myself, it made me feel welcome in this community, and I will always be grateful."
Commitment to All Citizens
Throughout his career, White resisted political division and refused to see his citizens in categories of race or status. To him, residents were taxpayers—and as such, they deserved equal representation. He backed this philosophy with action, working closely with inner-city youth, supporting African American neighborhoods in both North and South Spartanburg, and quietly financing initiatives for children and families in need.
Stories shared during the memorial underscored this spirit. Mayor Jerome Rice recalled how White personally paid for travel expenses so a local youth track team could compete in Michigan, never seeking recognition for his generosity. Others remembered his work on environmental justice, including pushing for cleanup of the hazardous Arkwright Dump, which had long impacted Black families in Spartanburg.
A Quiet, Steady Mentor
Beyond politics, White was a mentor to countless individuals. Friends and colleagues described him as approachable, honest, and relentless in his commitment to fairness. He offered guidance to young leaders, supported the Boys & Girls Clubs, and helped bring institutions like the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) to Spartanburg—an achievement that continues to benefit the city’s economy and healthcare system.
A Notable Absence
While the memorial was filled with heartfelt words and memories, some attendees quietly noted the absence of a larger turnout, particularly among Black leaders. Speculation arose that the service may not have been widely promoted in those circles—a bittersweet reminder of the challenges in ensuring that voices like White’s receive the full measure of recognition they deserve.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Junie White’s story is one of compassion, conviction, and community. From his bold support for equality to his quiet generosity, he embodied what it means to be a servant leader. As Representative Myers reminded those gathered, his example “wasn’t just about marking a day on the calendar—it was a declaration that everyone deserves visibility, safety, respect, and love."
For Spartanburg, his memory will remain a guiding light: proof that good people, when courageous, can reshape a city’s culture and chart a brighter path forward.
Brough to you by:
Comments