Bishop Frank Otha White
Brilliantly favored among noble men, South Carolinian native Bishop Frank Otha White was the principal architect of the towering Freeport landmark, the Zion Cathedral Church of God in Christ whose royal structure stands tall across the skyline of Long Island’s South Shore in New York.
Under Bishop White’s more than 40 years of pastorate, Zion’s membership grew to well over 1,500 actively involved in more than 25 fully operational ministries for children, youth, adults, singles, couples, senior citizens and the entire family. Along with this visible contribution to the religious community, Bishop White is both a spiritual father and friend to the entire ecumenical community, admired for enlisting fellowship with Long Island’s largest representation of Christian organizations, religious bodies and inter-faith endeavors.
Known for his visionary predisposition, Bishop White was the Founding Chief Executive Officer of the Cedarmore Corporation–the subsidiary Social Services Arm of Zion Cathedral specializing in youth-related educational activities.
Bishop White’s establishment of the Cedarmore Corporation robustly elevated the Church’s mission of providing targeted programs for the advancement of youth achievement and development including:
The Big Brothers Basketball Association
Ready, Set, kNOw
Young Entrepreneurs Training Program
Farmers Market Programs
After School Enrichment Program
Bishop White also held the distinction of Lifetime Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). From the seat of civic government, Bishop White was named Honorary Deputy Mayor of the Incorporated Village of Freeport and in 1993 became Founding President of the Long Island Conference of Clergy.
Carrying the respect of public dignitaries at every level, with his hands fastened upon the pulse of humanity, Bishop White became the recipient of countless proclamations, citations and civic awards, among which are: the prestigious Dr. Martin Luther King Award from the Freeport Human Relations Committee; the Church of God in Christ's highest tribute–the Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Award from the Religious Workers Guild and the Frederick Douglass Award from the Long Island Council of African Americans.
The scope of service which Bishop White fulfilled with distinction touches upon every vital theme of Long Island Life: From his contribution as benefactor of the Freeport High School Scholarship Committee to his sponsorship of the Economic Opportunity Council Summer Basketball Team for Boys.
Today, Bishop White's family and Zion Cathedral continue to perpetuate Bishop White's rich charismatic legacy as recipients of his posthumous recognition, far and wide, and are applauded for so generously sharing with the world so great a leader, so dedicated a servant and so widely admired a genuine, natural born, global hero.