August 16, 2024 (age 89)
Alice was born in Columbus County, NC the oldest child of Charlie Raymond and Leona Gore White. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Lillian Norris White; husband, Joseph Lane; brothers: Elroy, Willard, Ray, and Dale; sister, Hilda (Mosbey); and daughters: Marcella (Lane) and Regina (Dongell).
Alice is survived by brothers Charles (Rosalie) of Burgaw, NC, Jerome (Rosa) of Clarkton, NC; sisters-in-law, Luvenia White of Whiteville, NC and Freda White of Elizabethtown, NC; daughter Pamela Fipps (Bradford) of Liberty, SC; son, Dwane Lane (Tammy) of Tabor City, NC; and son-in-law, Joe Dongell of Wilmore, KY; five grandchildren and spouses: Scott and Laura Fipps Bryson of Jamestown, NC, David and Detra Fipps of Rochester, MN, Jordan and Heather Dongell of Wilmore, KY, Janna Dongell of Lexington, KY and fiancé, Aaron McNulty, Cody and Kristen Lane Fowler of Clarendon, NC; seven great-grandchildren: Allester and Amelia Bryson; Lily and Catherine Dongell; Bentley, Brilynn, and Ayden Fowler; and special friends whom she counted as family: Rick and Laurie Winner, Eric Winner, and Elise Winner Norris.
Alice grew up in the community known as White’s Crossing near Williams Township, NC. She developed a love for music at a young age and found much joy from singing and playing the piano. Her dad tapped into that raw talent and put her on the piano bench at Antioch Baptist Church around the age of 10 years old. This love for music blossomed into church service including pianist, choir director, youth leader, and Sunday School teacher. Her vibrant Christian walk and love for her Lord Jesus, drew many to come to faith for themselves. So much was this the focus of her life that her memoir, published in book form, is titled, Let Me be a Witness, and her children were repeatedly instructed that she had purchased her choir robe and was to be buried in it so that she could go singing into Heaven.
Alice had a zest for life. She spread laughter and joy along with jokes and “cutting the fool.” Ever the creative leader, she established, directed and produced a Guideway community fall festival/Halloween Carnival in the early 1970s that ran for 10 years and drew in participants from neighboring communities raising funds for church related purposes. She arranged and directed several Christmas Cantatas in her 18 years leading youth and adult choirs at Old Zion Wesleyan Church.
Married to Joseph Lane in 1953, the couple owned and operated a radio station in Louisburg, NC from 1959-1968 when they returned to the Guideway community and the Lane family farm. She faithfully focused on her four children in their formative years and re-entered the work force as a bookmobile librarian for the Columbus County Public Library system from 1978-1988 significantly increasing its circulation and loving people all across the county. Switching gears again, she and husband, Joe, relocated to Holden Beach to own and operate Beach Realty. A chair in front of her office desk welcomed friends and new acquaintances to sit for hours and talk about their struggles and the condition of their souls. Meanwhile, she served her new church—Sharon United Methodist—as a choir member, Sunday School teacher, fall bazaar committee member, and co-founder of a Ladies Prayer Retreat that was a 20-year annual event for Spiritual renewal. This season of her life produced rich friendships—especially in her weekly prayer group—that she considered a true reward and blessing.
After losing her beloved Joe in 2013, she remained in the real estate business until her retirement in 2018 at 83 years old! Not to be outdone by age, she moved with gusto to live in a new mobile home just for her in the back yard of daughter Pam’s property. She participated as much as she could in her new church setting—ALIVE Wesleyan Church in Central, SC—and was sometimes frustrated that her health wouldn’t allow her to be in leadership for something! Instead, she found a body of believers that enfolded her with love and compassion.
Throughout her life, Alice exemplified an exceptional love and commitment to her Heavenly Father, her family, her church, and her friends. She never stopped wanting those she encountered to meet Jesus and experience His great love.
Was she a witness? Yes, she was.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, August 24, 2024, in Old Zion Wesleyan Church with burial following services in Old Zion Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Saturday in Old Zion Wesleyan Church.
A service of Inman Ward Funeral Home & Crematory
