Johnny Mack White
Photograph of Johnny, obtained from Carter-Conley Funeral Home.
Johnny Mack White was known to many as “The Houston Hustler,” an affectionate nickname sprouting from his love for racing and pool. He was great at both, and is remembered fondly by friends and the local community for his exceptional talent behind the wheel.
Johnny was born in Dugger, Indiana on February 24th, 1950 to loving parents Margaret Jane White and John Robert. He had two sisters, Marilyn and Rhonda. Marilyn passed away before Johnny, along with both his parents, and his daughter, Donna. Although these losses undoubtedly hurt Johnny, he is survived by so many who loved him, including his daughter Jonna, and grandsons Trent and Grant.
Photograph of Johnny and daughter Jonna as a child, obtained from Carter-Conley Funeral Home.
On Johnny’s tribute wall, Jonna wrote, “I will miss you. The collect calls, the crazy stories and your letters. Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Doris, and Donna were waiting for you and now you are finally home. I love you.”
James Wilburn, a friend of Johnny’s family, recalls on Jonny’s tribute wall a time “when Johnny first showed me his funny car. It was what every man wanted, a fast car. But what took me by surprise and really shocked me was that bad ass race car had another bad ass engine setting next to it. And I said two motors? And he looked at me and smiled. And said yep, if anything goes wrong at the race, you just switched them out and Keep Racing. Loved all the Family. Rip Johnny.”
Another friend, Bobby Hodges Jr., remembers the final time he saw Johnny: “The last time I saw him was in Baytown for the national event a few years ago we talked about the past and his smile and that big cowboy hat made my day. You are going to be missed[...] we will see you later and thanks for the entertainment. Race In Paradise.”
Photograph of Johnny and daughter Jonna, obtained from Carter-Conley Funeral Home.
Despite Johnny’s natural talent for racing and love for his family and friends shone through to his friend Pat Callaway, too, Pat wrote on Johnny’s tribute wall, “Johnny was the kind of person that comes around only once in a lifetime. Our racing is memories I will ALWAYS cherish. He was so talented and all the Hustler fans loved him.We had so many booked match races that we could race 52 weeks in a year. We were a crew of only 5 being Johnny, Diane, Robbie King, Dickie Callaway and me. Fans loved us and Johnny always had time for a fan, especially a kid[...] I love you my dear friend and I would love to see your Mom’s face when she sees her first born’s face. Go rest high my dear friend until our circle and crew is once again unbroken.”
Johnny Mack White passed away on May 13, 2020, after catching the COVID-19 while incarcerated at Harris County Jail. He was the third person to die of COVID-related complications at the Jail, and one of hundreds of incarcerated people to pass away due to such complications statewide in Texas.
Johnny will be remembered and loved for as long as those he touched throughout his life live.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Elizabeth Torres-Griefer with information from an obituary by Carter-Conley Funeral Home, reporting by St. John Bared-Smith of The Houston Chronicle, and the Texas Justice Initiative.