JOSHUA NICHOLAS WHITE was born July 3, 1984, in Phoenix, Arizona. He was raised, educated, worked, and socialized almost exclusively in the Greater Phoenix area, mainly in the Ahwatukee section of Phoenix, and in Chandler.
Joshua went to school at Kyrene de las Lomas Elementary, Centennial Middle School, and Mountain Point High School. He did further his education with some college courses.
From the day he was able to, after shedding the orthopedic leg braces he wore as a toddler, Josh participated in just about every type of youth sport available. Even though he chose not to continue with formal athletics after his freshman year due to a football injury in high school, he has always been extremely interested in sports, as a participant and of course as a viewer. He was especially drawn to body-building and was intrigued by the wide array of body-building techniques and sport nutrition products that circulated throughout the activity.
As a viewer, Josh was a BIG Dallas Cowboys fan. Everyone knew that. He would tell you, however, that one of his most memorable sports events was the Cardinals National Football Conference Championships, in 2009, which he attended with his dad, Rodney.
Josh’s work experience was widespread, from the food/hospitality industry where he achieved a management position, to cell phone sales, installation, and repair, to construction, working primarily in the granite field. Make no mistake, however, Josh would never turn away from any job that crossed his path.
Also noteworthy was Josh’s wide variety of music interests. These varied from R&B/HipHop to Electronic/Dance, to Country and Western, and virtually everything in between. He had no problem blasting any of these music genres to full volume while he sang along. He was also a big fan of T.V. and online entertainment and social media videos.
Josh’s other interests and experiences include playing the saxophone, wrestling, body-building, horse-wrangling, sky-diving from an airplane, Hawaii snorkeling, paddleboarding in the middle of a lake, recovering from two separate family home fires, doing an appearance on a celebrity reality show (and he really liked Toni Braxton after that), and being given chocolates by President Obama.
Josh’s circle of friends also reflected the diversity which defined his life and environment. Virtually every nationality, race, gender, and ethnic group was represented in Josh’s inner circles. He brought the rich and the poor, the geeks and the bad boys, the young and not-so-young, those on or off the “spectrum,” all together for any and all events.
The centerpieces to Josh’s outer existence were his stunning handsomeness, his smile and his laughter, all very powerful and contagious. However, the qualities that will endure well past the others are Josh’s limitless generosity and compassion. No matter how many struggles he was going through, someone else’s problems would skyrocket to the top of Josh’s priority list and he would do whatever he had to in order to address this new urgency.
Josh will be truly missed – but that phrase does very little to express the true immensity and depth of the collective loss we are all experiencing right now.
Joshua was preceded in death by his older brother, Nathaniel John White, grandparents, John and Elsie Fortenberry, Booker T. and Ethel Lee White, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. Josh is survived by his pops, Charles White, Sr., mother Elise Mitchell, dad Rodney Mitchell, Sr, his brothers Charles White, Jr, Rodney Mitchell, Jr, Cheyenne Mitchell, and Jonathan Byrd, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and of course, close friends.
Visitation for Joshua will be Friday, October 8, 2021 from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. A Buddhist Funeral Service will be on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:00 A.M. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home. Interment will follow at East Resthaven Cemetery, 4310 E. Southern Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85042. For those who are not able to attend please view the live stream at https://www.facebook.com/WhitneyMurphyFH/live/. Condolences may be expressed at www.whitneymurphyfuneralhome.com
Roxanne Ansolabehere
Oh no, Elise. I am so sorry. So so sorry. You and Rodney are in my thoughts.
Lisa Baer Kimes
Josh was a special light! I would run into him at one of the restaurants he worked at and all my girlfriends loved him!! He will be missed and I will remember him as the sweet neighborhood boy! My heart breaks for his family and all of us who loved him! Many hugs!
Kaiya K Harvey
My heart is with you all and my deepest condolences, I know he was well loved by his family and I pray and chant for the next leg of his soul’s journey and that of his grieving family.
shirley a simone
Dear Elise, Rodney and family,
We are so very sorry to hear this tragic news. Please know you all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Much love and hugs.
Shirley and Shelley
Samuel Young
Elise and Rodney
Extending my deepest condolence and pray for peace and comfort during this time of such a great loss.
S Young
Starr Embry
My Sweetheart ,my Mermaid man. I send prayers to your Entire family. You were so amazing to me & my son. Your “little turkey” , he won’t stop asking to talk to you. I wish we could hear your voice just one more time. Feel your love amongst us one more time. I’ll forever keep you close in my heart. My mind replays you saying to me “Let it all out, just remember to bring it back in.” To Mrs.Elise & to your entire family STAY STRONG
I love you. Joshua thank you for feeding my soul with so much love. ❤️
Susan McKenzie
Rodney and Elise , My heart is sad , I almost have no words. Josh was a great person. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Valerie Peters
My most enduring memory of Josh are all of the hugs he gave me over the years. He put his whole heart into those hugs. He had great compassion for everyone – 2 legged and 4 legged. His intense concern and love for his family was always obvious to me. Living from the heart was his native language. Thank you for your unconditional love Josh.
Gwendolyn Franklin
I am so sorry to hear of your son’s passing. It’s very sad that his life was cut so short. I can not begin to tell you how you must feel with loosing this child so early on. I will pray and chant for him to reach Eagle Peak. I know he is a Buddha now. Bless you both and your family. May peace and love be with you always.
Mickey Palubeskie
My love and heart go out to your family. What a wonderful son you had in Josh…every time I saw him he had that great big smile on his face..He and Tyson are in Heaven now and buddies taking care of everyone.. He will be truly missed.. No one has the perfect words to make your sadness go away, but find comfort in knowing how many people wish they did….Love Mickey Palubeskie
Kathy Monteiro
I have no words to express what my heart feels.. Sending love and comfort to all the family. Thank you Josh for your pure heart and light over the years in our neighborhood. You are and will be missed.
Kathy Monteiro and Family.
Paulette Aasen
Dear Rodney, Elise and your beautiful family,
I am so very sorry to hear of your great loss. Josh was a beautiful person and he will be incredibly missed by everyone who knew him. I cherish the lovely memories I have of him and your family at your home and all the activities we did together in Arizona. I will be chanting for him daily. Love you all.
My deepest sympathies,
Paulette
Helen Gordon
Rodney and Elise Mitchell,
My heart goes out to you all. This is so sad and I’m sure devastating to you. May peace be within you and your families to get through this.
Namaste`
Roger and Lei Mitchell
Dear Elise, Rodney, Rodney Jr. and Cheyenne,
You have our deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved Josh. We’re thinking of you and our hearts break for you. We’ll think of Josh always and keep him in our hearts forever. We hope in time you will find comfort and peace. Love you all very much.
Roger and Lei
DeanA
NMRK NMRK NMRK… much love to you and family. DeanA, Jacob & James- your AWE Family
Lai kuku
Dearest Elise, Rodney and Family.
My deepest condolences. I am so sorry for your loss.
Your entire family will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
Rosemarie Jauch
May eternal light shine upon him and all of our dearly departed.
Nae Zaniewski
Josh was like my “brother from another mother” if you wanna call it that..No we don’t have the same dad..but I knew him since I was 8yrs old .Him and my older brother was 10. I remember watching them play video games. He was my brother Fred’s first fried when we moved to Arizona.. I always looked up to Josh and he always was there for me and had my back.I miss him and he will never be forgotten..ms Elise and big Rodney, I love and appreciate y’all for taking me under your wings