Cheryl White

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Cheryl White on Sunday April 19th, 2026 after a short hospitalization.

Cheryl White was born on  February 6, 1948, in Curacao to the late Alston and Cleo Arthur, one of ten children. Cheryl was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. Defined by her unwavering love, and commitment to her family, her church family, college students, and the New Jersey Student Financial Aid Community, Cheryl was a mentor, and spent her life helping others to discover and achieve their dreams. Cheryl was a graduate of Orange High school, she worked as a French interpreter at JFK Airport in Queens, New York, while attending Douglas College of Rutgers University, NJ, majoring in French. 

Cheryl met the love of her life, Elliot White Sr. 

After graduation, Cheryl's vision of helping others succeed took root with the beginning of her long-lasting career as a devoted University Financial Aid Administrator.  Beginning at Rutgers University, she assisted thousands of students with financing their college education, she was promoted to Assistant Director of the Freshman Unit, she excelled at providing financial advice to families.  Cheryl accepted a position at Fairleigh Dickinson University, serving as a Director of Financial Aid and was elected, and served as the President of the New Jersey Association of Financial Aid Administrators in 1987. She moved forward with her career to UMDNJ Medical/Dental School assisting Graduate and Professional school students. With the State transfer of UMDNJ to Rutgers University her career culminated to where she began at Rutgers until her retirement. In her spare time, she was a voracious reader. 

At New Hope Baptist Church, Cheryl was a devoted member of the Scholarship ministry, serving as president for a number ofyears, and provided financial aid workshops, and for the past several years as the Chaplin of the Scholarship ministry. Cheryl was a member of the various choirs. She was also the president of the VIP choir. She was  a faithful member of Images of Sisterhood, the Encounter Couples ministry, Culinary ministry and the church’s Constitution committee.

Most importantly, Cheryl never strayed from her primary purpose in life, loving God, and her family. She was the devoted mother of Patricia and Elliot Jr. and for 53 years the loving wife of Elliot White Sr. until his passing in October 2023. 

Cheryl is survived by her children, her siblings, Alegernon and his wife Patricia, Ulric and his wife Evelyn, Erno and his wife Pauline, Ormonde, Jacques, Bruce and his wife Kelly, sisters Corinne, and Dian, brother in-law Quentin and a host of nephews and nieces.

She is predeceased by her beloved husband Elliot and her sister- in law Mignon.
Her genuine compassion and concern for others are an enduring part of her legacy; a life extraordinarily well lived.