In the small district of Mines, St. Ann, Jamaica, a queen was born to Ann Black and David Slader on October 19, 1936—even though official records insist on January 19, 1937, a clerical twist that has remained a beloved family joke for decades. The family celebrates both, but October will always hold the truth of Mama P’s arrival into the world.
Thelma Salder White, the last of five children, was perhaps the fiercest of them all. A quiet loner by nature, she was deeply studious, fiercely independent, and ambitious from a very young age. Long before it was common for women in her community, she knew she would one day be both a homeowner and an entrepreneur, and she made it happen.
Bold and unafraid, Thelma never tolerated injustice. She stood up not only for herself but also for strangers, and famously, for the young man who would later become her husband. At just 16 years old, she single rescued from a community mob. Two years later, at 18, she married him, and together she and Lester White founded what is now proudly known as the White/Whyte Tribe.
Their union produced nine children:
Clinton, Amalyn (sadly we lost in April 2000), Elett, Bim, Bam (the nameless twins lost shortly after birth), Devon (who graced the world briefly), Martin, Violet, and twelve years later Margarette, jokingly called the “menopause baby.”
Marriage brought no ease. Shortly after their wedding, Thelma and Lester acquired land, built a home, and established a thriving agricultural plantation, raising livestock and growing food of every kind, along with cold minding. Their success bred envy, first whispers, then hostility, and eventually physical attacks. But Thelma was no coward.
She never started fights, but she finished them. Armed with courage, determination, and sometimes sticks and stones, she did not miss.
More importantly, she learned to wield the legal system with precision, protecting her family, her children, and her property. Keeping her children out of prison, despite persistent attempts by those fueled by jealousy, became one of her greatest battles and victories.
Yet her life was not only forged in struggle. It was also filled with joy and generosity, playing, dancing, and laughing with her children, working tirelessly to build a future, and sharing her livestock and harvest with her older siblings and persons in the surounding community, even extending grace to some who were once foes. She stood as a loyal partner and, later in life, became a devoted caregiver to her beloved Lester, who never failed in his love, protection, and support for her. They were everything to each other.
Beyond her home, Thelma was known for her many skills. She was a talented dressmakerand a trusted provider of lay midwifery care, delivering babies at home when that was the norm. When the call came, she answered. Always.
In October 1996, Thelma lost the love of her life. With that loss, she became the undisputed matriarch of the White/Whyte Tribe. Though grief weighed heavy, her children rallied around her, ensuring she was deeply cared for and never alone.
It was during this chapter that her love for travel blossomed. She boarded planes like taxis,sometimes for births, weddings, sickness, or farewells but always in love. Cruises followed. Adventures continued. Slowing down has never been her style.
Even today, Mama P can be found skipping, dancing, running, and playing dominoes, surrounded by love from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, by birth and by bond,while still making time to read her Bible, sing her spiritual songs, and stand firm in her deep belief in the power of prayer. She currently resides in the beautiful Virgin Islands, where she is lovingly surrounded by her menopause baby, Margarette, and family.
Today, the rewards of her life’s labor are clearly visible. Her hard work has paid off in the lives of her children and grandchildren, many of whom have forged their own paths as teachers, nurses, chefs, and skilled professionals in many fields. Each one reflects the values she instilled,discipline, resilience, integrity, and faith, living proof that her sacrifices were not in vain. She is now reaping the fruitage of her labor, surrounded by generations who stand strong because she stood first.
Our lives are richer because of her. She remains our compass, our protector, our go-to person. We are endlessly grateful for the life, love, and legacy she has poured into us, and we will continue to give her her roses while she can still smell them.
Be inspired by her story.
Never give up on your dreams.
Never let the family you came from damage the family that comes from you.
Thelma “Mama P” White will forever be our Queen.