“Beverly Jean Divers White was love.” – Dr. Arthur Divers (Beverly’s brother)

She Was A Family Woman

Dr. Beverly Divers-White was born on September 25, 1945, in Little Rock, Arkansas to Rosa Hawkins and Arthur Divers, Sr. As a child, she enjoyed singing with friends and traveled around to local churches sharing her passion. She connected with her public speaking talent at a very young age and realized she had the profound and unique ability to deliver passages from memory.  Mom to her only child, Samuel “Sam” D. White, Jr., he describes his mother as “one of the nation’s pioneer educators who cared deeply about the welfare of other people, her family and her community.” A dedicated global leader in educational empowerment, Beverly passed away on June 21, 2016, after a joyous life.

She Was An Educated Woman

Beverly was an educator, trendsetter, entrepreneur, non-profit executive, community/global leader and a professional mentor. She graduated from Horace Mann Senior High School and attended Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, TX and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she majored in English and History.

After college, she worked for the Economic Opportunity Agency as the Supervisor of Neighborhood Study Centers.

China: In Beijing and Surrounding Rural Towns in China, she served as a resource to Nongovernmental Organizations who were developing strategies for addressing the health, work and overall human/social needs of rural women in economically developing communities in China.

Brazil: In Sao Paulo and Rural areas in Brazil, she served as a team member with the staff and Board of the Foundation for the Mid-South as she studied the role of philanthropy in alleviating poverty in rural and urban communities in Brazil.

She Was Recognized for Her Service

Beverly received numerous honors and acknowledgements over the years. Among them, the Martin Luther King Community Service Award, Arkansas Volunteer Award, Worthern Bank Arkansas Outstanding Professional Woman of Distinction Award and the Arkansas Association for Educational Leadership, Leadership/Service Award.