LaWanda Marie White(nee' Trimm), was born on November 9, 1944, in St. Louis Missouri to the union of Sterling Trimm and Thelma Bilal(nee' Parker). A smart and outgoing young woman with a mischievous side, she was given the nickname, "Cutty Cut," as a little girl and it stuck with her for the rest of her life.

A graduate of Vashon High School, LaWanda went on to further her education at Florissant Valley Community College even after having children. She was a voracious reader and loved learning new things and writing. 

In 1966, she married Herman White, and from that loving union came her greatest pride, her daughters, April and Anise. She poured all she had into her daughters and was their fiercest protector.  She had a special ability to see them as individuals and played to each of their strengths. 

April loved to talk so LaWanda put her in activities that allowed her to speak and find her voice. Anise loved to sing so LaWanda started her in vocal coaching at the age of 8. April not only does public speaking but she is also a successful voice-over actor. Anise has performed on stages both across the U.S. and internationally for singers like, El DeBarge, Gloria Gaynor, and Chaka Khan.

Though LaWanda and Herman divorced, they remained great friends united in raising their daughters to be the best humans possible.

In 1986, LaWanda suffered a nervous breakdown and the effects impacted her for the rest of her life. But her story was not one of sickness, it was a story of strength, tenacity, will, and belief in God that allowed her to go on and live a full life. She was determined to help others who dealt with mental illness and while she grew quiet as a result of her condition, she found other ways to support. Whether it was an outreach call, being willing to share her story to help someone or even being willing to talk to someone when their loved one was diagnosed with mental illness. She helped in any way that she could.

LaWanda was a woman of a few words at times but she was clear about who she was and she made no apologies. She had a sharp wit, a guttural laugh that you couldn't forget, and could be stubborn when she put her mind to something. But she also had a heart of gold, would help anyone, and a wisdom beyond her years.  She knew what to say when you were going through something and could break things down to the simplest solution.

She is preceded in death by her beloved mother, Thelma Bilal(nee'Parker), her dear sister, Doris Levine(nee' Trimm),  her father, Sterling Trimm Jr., grandmothers Sarah Parker and Regina Miles, grandfathers Sterling Trimm Sr. and John Parker and son-in-law, Mark Goff.

LaWanda leaves to mourn her loss, daughters April Watts(Cedric), and Anise Goff(Mark),  her ex-husband and friend Herman White(Rose Cathey), her brothers Alphonza Strong(Jeanette) and Melvin Strong(Janice), her niece and bonus daughter, Dwania Hazel(Andre), her aunts, Stephanie Pierce Monroe and Beverly Burks(TC), and uncle Ricky Burks, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, countless cousins and a host of friends that she loved dearly. A special acknowledgment of her cousins Barbara and Pat as well as her oldest friends: April's godmother, Miss Gloria Green, Anise's godmother, Sharon Houston, and Dear friend, LaWanda Deloach.

If she loved you, she loved you deeply. While we are sad that she is gone, we are grateful that she lived and for all the love that she put into the world. 

LaWanda used to always say, "Don't sweat the small stuff." 

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