Dr. Goodloe Durrett White
(1894-1978)
He served Salisbury as a respected dentist and, after a brief bid in politics, he used his voice to advocate for the Black local schools against a willful neglect of funding.
Goodloe Durrett White was born on October 30, 1894, in Garrard, Kentucky to Durrett White and Mary White Leavell.1 He grew up on DucantownSt. in Garrard.2 His World War I draft card in 1917 reveals that by this time he had first moved to Maryland, living in Bowie.3 On May 18, 1918, White married his first wife, Vernelle H. Turner, in Washington D.C.4 On November 27, 1923, their daughter Hortencia Turner Allen was born.5
Goodloe graduated from Howard University Dental School sometime between 1920 and 1930. Soon after, Dr. White had his own dentistry in Salisbury, Maryland. His office was located on Poplar Hill Avenue.6 Dr. Durrett White was the only African American dentist on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and had other offices in Crisfield and Easton. On December 24, 1927, Dr. Durrett White was active with the Naomi Chapter 16 of Order of Eastern Star and his church, John Wesley AME.7 Sometime between 1930 and 1940, he married his second wife, Miriam Conway, in Salisbury.8
Dr. Durrett White ran for Salisbury’s city council in 1950 without any party affiliation because he was a candidate by petition (after both parties already selected their nominees).9 He was the “first Negro in modern history to be a candidate for city council” in the city of Salisbury.10 Dr. White’s platform for his candidacy was “the idea to make Salisbury a better place to live.”11 His platform called for a comprehensive needs assessment for the growing city, better housing and health conditions, and more recreational facilities in the city of Salisbury. His campaign was unsuccessful, placing last despite winning in Salisbury’s 2nd District.12
Right: Dr. White’s candidate platform published before the election.14
View larger image at the Chipman Archive↗️
He did not run again in the 1952 election for city council.16
Dr. Goodloe Durrett White befriended Dr. George Herbert Sembly, another prominent Black doctor in Salisbury. Dr. Durrett White and Dr. Sembly both lived at 615 Poplar Hill Avenue, according to the 1930 U.S. Census.17 Dr. Durrett White was on hand when Dr. Sembly signed his papers to run for City Council of Salisbury himself in 1952.
View larger image at the Chipman Archive↗️
On June 16, 1950, Dr. Durrett White inherited $2,831 from the estate of his late mother Mary White Leavell. On June 26, he bought the property owned by the late Ulysses G. Langston of Salisbury for $10,000.19 In 1951, he led a delegation to ensure that the planned construction of Salisbury’s new Black high school included a gym and auditorium, after the board of education removed these from the original plans. The delegation told the Wicomico County Commissioners that both the gymnasium and auditorium were needed badly, and that state law requires space for physical education.20 In 1960, Dr. Durrett White spoke at a Wicomico Education Association dinner to support local teachers. The event was organized by Charles Chipman, the principal of Salisbury High School.21
Dr. Durrett White served on the Salisbury-Wicomico Bi-Racial Committee by 1964, when they elected Hamilton P. Fox, Jr. as the new leader of the board.22 In 1968, the Inter-Racial Board Commission of Salisbury, Maryland met to discuss a variety of issues in the city including education. Dr. Durrett White spoke during the meeting about the racial discrimination in the Salisbury area schools, particularly Salisbury State College.23
After retirement, Dr. Goodloe Durrett White was honored with a plaque and certificate for over fifty years of service as a Mason. The ceremonies were held on May 5, 1974 at Lamach Lodge No. 30. Dr. Durrett White was also given a silver pitcher, a masonic watch, a purse, and other gifts. Although Dr. Durrett White could not attend himself, his awards were accepted on his behalf by Charles H. Chipman and the physician Dr. E. A. Purnell.24 Dr. Durrett White passed away on February 20, 1978, at the age of 91.
View larger image at the Chipman Archive↗️
Dr. Durrett White’s obituary details the philanthropy that he did in the Salisbury, Maryland area. Dr. Durrett White was a member of the Most Worship Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Maryland and was instrumental in the founding of the Lamach Lodge in Salisbury. He was President of the Maryland Dental Society, director of the SalisburyArea Chamber of Commerce from 1972-1973, member of the National Dental Association, and member of the Baltimore Gamma Boule Chapter of Sigma Phi fraternity. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge in Salisbury.26
Dr. Durrett White also a trustee of both the Wicomico Free Library and Wicomico Rehabilitation Center. He was a trustee and member of the administration board and building committee for his church, the John Wesley Temple United Methodist Church. While a part of the building committee for his church, he helped buy land for both the Salisbury Elementary and High Schools. Dr. Durrett White was a trustee of the Wicomico Nursing home, chairman of the Thanksgiving Donation Committee for Salisbury High School and founder of the day nursery in front of Salisbury Elementary School. Dr. Durrett White was predeceased by his wife Miriam but survived by his daughter Hortencia.27
