Leonese Jean White Shropshire Taylor

Leonese Jean White Shropshire Taylor  was the seventh of ten children born on May 10, 1955 to James Edward White, Sr. and Mary Virginia Billingsley White. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska where she lived for most of her life until she relocated to Atlanta, GA to live with her son Herbert Shropshire, III in 2021. 

After a bout with breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones and brain, the Lord called Leonese home on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the age of 69 years old. 

Leonese attended Lothrop Elementary, Clifton Hill Elementary, Monroe Junior High and North High schools. She was a graduate of Omaha North High School in January 1974. She has always been praised for receiving high grades in school. 

Leonese, affectionately known to her family as “Leo”, was married to Herbert Stevens Shropshire, Jr. in 1972. They divorced and she later married Jessie Joe Taylor in 1983, they divorced. 

Leo had a quiet, soft-spoken demeanor, but if you made her mad, you better watch out! She will let you have it! As a child she was what we considered a tomboy. She was good at playing sports and had a competitive spirit. And it was nothing for her to punch somebody if she thought they had it coming. She had a remarkable memory about things that happened long ago that others have totally forgotten about. Before she became too ill to enjoy her life, Leo enjoyed being around her family, listening to gospel and R&B music, knitting, crocheting, and making arts and crafts, and watching old western movies and game shows on TV. She took a writing class when she moved to Atlanta and enjoyed putting her writing skills to use. 

As a teenager, Leo’s first job was working for Goodwill Industries. In her late teens and early 20s she began working for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company for several years before going to work for the Benson Community Center. 

Leonese knew and loved the Lord at an early age. She read her bible and devotional regularly until her health prevented her from doing so. She enjoyed sharing the word of God with others. She attended Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Omaha, NE before relocating to Atlanta. 

Leonese was preceded in death by her father James Edward White, Sr. 

She leaves to cherish her memories her mother Mary Billingsley White of Omaha, NE, her three children son Herbert Shropshire, III of Decatur, GA; daughter Mary L. Shropshire of Plano, TX; son-in-law and daughter Antione and Charlotte Curtis of The Colony, TX; six grandchildren Quentin Allen, Jr.; Elise Shropshire; Jordan Curtis; Raiden Curtis; Malyn Shropshire; Ethan Curtis; nine sisters and brothers Ellen Crawford (George Gulley) of Omaha, NE; James E. White, Jr. (Patricia) of Owasso, OK; Rose Patterson (Albert); Paul White, Sr.; Ronald White, Sr.(Linda); Janice Rutledge (Harry) of Omaha, NE; Donna Steward (Charles) of Arlington, TX; Patricia White; and Eric White of Omaha, NE, one uncle James Billingsley of Omaha, NE, and a host of nieces, great-nieces, nephews, great-nephews and friends.

Services will be held on Friday, May 31, 2024 at Roeder Mortuary, 4932 Ames Ave, Omaha NE 68104.  VISITATION: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and FUNERAL SERVICE at 12:00 PM.  Burial to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, NE. Services will be livestreamed below.