Caren White

Caren White, 67, of Smiths Station, Alabama, passed away Wednesday afternoon in the comfort of her home.
Caren was born December 13, 1955, in Columbus, Georgia and was the daughter of the late Rev. Virgil Lamar Colbert and Betty Jo Keller Colbert. She had served as a Certified Nursing Assistant for many years and retired from Azalea House Health Care in Opelika, Alabama. Those who knew Caren were often enamored with her unfailing kindness. In addition to her humble nature, Caren had several passions; chief among those passions was music. In her early adulthood she parlayed that love into a modest singing and songwriting career. With her church roots, she found that gospel songwriting came naturally, and she was later able to transition into country music as well. Her biggest success was a country tune, “Promises Broken,” which reached as high as 60 on the country music charts.
Her second love, or guilty pleasure, was pop culture which typically centered around Princess Diana or Tom Selleck. In true Caren style, whose enthusiasm knew no bounds, she even arranged for Tom Selleck to join her family for dinner in the 80’s. Her last and most enduring love was for her children. A mother of four, she left little doubt to anyone who would listen that she believed being a mother was her true calling. That even extended into the animal world where she cared for numerous “furry babies” but loved none as much as Baby Bella with whom she shared her final moments.
Caren is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dennis Lamar Colbert. She is survived by her children: Clint Pridgen and wife Elizabeth, Jameson White and wife Natalie, Tristen Hyatt and husband Tommy, and Taren Thomas and husband Shawn; ten grandchildren, Ethan, Skylar, Annabelle, Libby, Justin, Walker, Airiel, Georgia Grace, Addy, and Kennedy; two brothers: Keith Colbert and wife Paulette, and Thomas Colbert and wife Sharon; her lifelong friend and cousin, Deborah Medley; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, extended family, and many caring friends.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held in the Chapel at First Baptist of Opelika at 3:00 pm CDT (4:00 pm EDT) on Thursday, August 17, 2023. The family will receive friends on Thursday one hour prior to the service at the Chapel.