In Memory of Myrtle Escort White
Myrtle Escort White (1933-2023) was a pre-med/pre-nursing major at SF State from 1951 to 1953 before completing her nursing degree in 1955 at St. Francis Memorial Hospital at a time when African American registered nurses were extremely rare. She worked in community-based nursing for 25 years and was a lifelong advocate of community service and supporting healthy families.Ms. Myrtle, as she was affectionately referred to as an adult, was born in Beaumont, Texas as the oldest of four siblings. She had a particularly close relationship with her paternal grandfather whom she said always encouraged her questions and keen observations including about racial injustice. What her daughters later observed in her work to identify and rectify injustice and unfairness started early in her childhood.
Her father, having served in the Navy and stationed in Vallejo, California, became part of the Great Migration of Black Americans from the South to other areas of the country and he moved his young family from Beaumont to San Francisco. Settling in the Western Addition and Potrero Hill alongside many other Black families from Texas and Louisiana, her family became longtime members of Jones United Methodist Church and part of its extended family of young Black families who settled in what had become thriving Black communities in San Francisco. As a young adult, Ms. Myrtle was a member of the Thirteen Charms social club, sponsored by the older women at the church.
Ms. Myrtle graduated from San Francisco’s Commerce High School in 1951, attended San Francisco State University (then known as San Francisco State College) from 1951-53 as a pre-nursing major, and received her R.N. degree in 1955. She was always a pioneer and a role model for what a smart young Black girl with confidence and assertiveness could accomplish. She spent the majority of her professional career leading programs to uplift the lives of young people, from teen-aged mothers to children in whom the community had underinvested.
Coming of age in San Francisco, Ms. Myrtle developed a lifelong friendship with the Honorable Willie L. Brown. Ms. Myrtle was so proud of all that her dear friend accomplished in his life and career though always reminded him that she knew him before he became THE Willie Brown.
Her three daughters were her pride and joy. She was their first role model and the embodiment of the song “I am woman hear me roar.” She celebrated all of their milestones and told them every day they could achieve anything they desired. Ms. Myrtle loved spending time with her daughters cooking favorite meals, watching sports, going to concerts, traveling, and celebrating every milestone birthday and any other occasion in which the family could be together.
She was also mom to her daughters’ friends as her home was the place where their group of friends gathered after school and on the weekends. These friends came to call her Moms and part of her circle of chosen children and they sought her advice for any number of challenges. Ms. Myrtle’s received great love and support from these chosen children as she aged.
Myrtle Escort White’s family has a multi-generational relationship with SF State. She met her former husband, Dr. Joseph L. White, a renowned psychologist and one of the founders of SF State’s Africana Studies Department, on campus when they were both students. With him, she had three children: Lori Suzanne White, Lynn Nanette White, and Lisa Diane White. Lisa and Lynn pursed bachelor’s degrees at San Francisco State University. Lisa and Lori pursued careers in higher education with Lisa serving 22 years at SF State a professor of Geology, Chair of the Department of Geosciences, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and Associate Dean of the College of Science & Engineering. She has continued to serve SF State as a board member of the SFSU Foundation Board.
This scholarship is endowed by Lisa White. In keeping with the community values Ms. Myrtle embodied during her life, the scholarship received support from many family members and friends after her passing who wanted to honoring Ms. Myrtle in this special way.