Dr. Milton “Luke” White, Jr.

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Dr. Milton “Luke” Falkner White, Jr

In celebration of the Journey of Life, the family and friends of Milton “Luke” Falkner White, Jr., M.D. announce his passing on May 20, 2009. Luke was born in Laurel, Miss. on Oct. 1, 1960, to parents Milton Falkner White, Sr. and Gay White, currently residing in Columbiana. Luke lived in Mississippi and Louisiana during his childhood. He is survived by his brother Jim White and daughters Jamie and Jordan, of Birmingham; his sister Julie Kneipp, husband Stephen, and their sons Mark Allan and Brandon, of Laurel, Miss. He is also survived by his sons Nathan, Ryan and Milton III (“Tripp”), and their mother Paige Pattillo White, of Birmingham.
Luke loved his family and shared his passion for sports with his sons. Luke was continually active in golf, tennis, table tennis, sailing and snow skiing. He also profoundly loved music, and with friends Rick Tomlinson and Gary Asher would talk for countless hours about music and drumming. He was also a connoisseur of all foods Cajun, a resident grilling expert, and most importantly, a man who professed his faith and love of Christ openly and without hindrance. He was a member of The Church at Brook Hills. Luke graduated from Berry High School. He was a member of the state 4-A football championship team his senior year in 1977. Luke (Dr. White) received from the University of Alabama at Birmingham both his undergraduate degree (cum laude) in 1982 and later his medical degree (cum laude) in 1986, graduating fourth in his class and serving as class president. Dr. White completed a general surgery internship at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. in 1987, a Pre-residency Research program at The Retina Research Foundation of Alabama in 1988, an American Retina Fellowship program at the Universitat Augenklinik Cologne, West Germany in 1988, an Ophthalmology Residency at the UAB School of Medicine/Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital in Birmingham in 1991, and a Vitreoretinal Disease Fellowship at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. in 1992. During his third year of ophthalmology residency training at UAB, Dr. White was appointed Chief Resident. Dr. White was a member of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including Outstanding Young Men of America, Best All-Around Medical Student and Best Doctors in America. Dr. White served on many committees and boards and was President of the Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital Medical Staff from 1997 to 1999. He was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, the Alabama Academy of Ophthalmology, the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the Jefferson County Medical Society and the Christian Medical Ministry of Alabama. With his love for the Birmingham community and his passion to serve, he and his partners formed Retina Consultants of Alabama in 1992. Along with Richard M. Feist, M.D., John O. Mason, III, M.D., Martin L. Thomley, M.D. and Michael A. Albert, Jr., M.D., Dr. White served patients worldwide and provided the hope and gift of sight to thousands. Through a skilled and compassionate hand, promoting leading edge research, and sharing his knowledge with future generations of clinicians. His legacy will continue to guide his practice and all those who worked with him.