Diane "Dee" Block White

Diane "Dee" Block White, 87, passed away Friday, June 26, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte, NC. She was surrounded by her devoted children and many of her grandchildren in the compassionate care of Hospice. Born May 7, 1939, in Lexington, NC, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Milton Block and Anel Norman Block. Following graduation from Lexington Senior High School, she married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Henry Jackson White, and followed him to Appalachian State Teachers College in 1957. They both received teaching degrees, but Dee was called to motherhood and always considered raising and loving her family to be the most important work of her life. After teaching in Reidsville, NC, for a few years, they moved to Charlotte to raise their family.

Dee became a barber in 1981 and quickly became a favorite, maintaining many of her clients’ hair for decades until she retired in her early 80s. She loved barbering and the friendships she built with her customers. Her chair became more than a place for a haircut – it was a place where people felt welcomed, listened to, and genuinely cared for. Famous for bragging about her children and grandchildren, she covered her booth with photos of them. She opened her own barber shop, Tower Place, in 1992, and many of her clients continue to patronize it today.

The joy of Dee’s life was her family; she adored her husband, Jack, whom she married August 14th, 1957. She was a devoted mother, grandmother (“Nana”) and great-grandmother whose love knew no bounds. Time with her family was her favorite hobby and feeding them was her greatest gift. Her cooking and baking skills were legendary – there is nothing better than Nana’s bread, pound cake or Special K bars – and her recipes will be cherished by her family forever. Dee would bake for weeks to provide meals for the Block Family Beach Trip that her children and grandchildren would look forward to all year long. Dee and Jack’s second love was Appalachian State Football, and they shared that love with their children and grandchildren, who continue attending games faithfully in their honor.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Jack, in 2010; her sister, Beryl Block Talbert, in 2012; and grandson, Jeremy Lynch, in 2010. Dee is survived by her children, Jack, Sharon (Stan), Mickey and Kip (Erin); 16 adored grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

Dee is also survived by her beloved sister, Betty Reyner James, and her “Lunch Bunch,” who were lifelong friends she adored. They still meet for lunch to this day to catch up and support each other. She loved to play bridge and cards and was playing daily with “her girls” at Providence Meadows until her recent illness.

Dee will be remembered for her gentle heart, her joyful spirit and the countless ways she made others feel loved. Her legacy lives on in the family she treasured, the recipes she shared, the friends she held close and the many lives made brighter simply by knowing her.

A service to celebrate Dee’s life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in the chapel of McEwen Funeral Service – Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road. The family will receive friends following the service.

Online condolences may be shared at http://www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com.