Roger Payne White, aged 83, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, in Hertford, North Carolina. Born on June 17, 1942, in Chowan County, North Carolina, Roger lived a life enriched by love, music, and the great outdoors.

Roger was a talented sheet metal mechanic who dedicated many years of service to Hobbs-Adams Engineering Company and Southern Sheet Metal. Beyond his professional accomplishments, he harbored a lifelong passion for music. A gifted rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist, Roger played in numerous bands and had the honor of recording multiple records in Nashville. He was recognized for his songwriting talent when he won the prestigious WCMS Songwriting Contest in 1972. Country music was his enduring love, and he delighted in writing songs that captured the spirit and stories of everyday life.

An avid fisherman, Roger cherished the tranquility of fishing trips, often spending hours casting lines and enjoying nature's beauty. His green thumb was evident in his well-tended garden, where rose and blueberry bushes flourished under his care.

Roger was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Arsie Millard White and Pattie A. Ward White; his first wife, Frances Ann Holland Randall; his second wife, Bonnie Marie Chase White; his daughter, Lori Ann Fitch; and his sisters, Dora Aston, Ruby Weaver, and Evelyn Blythe.

He is survived by his son, Roger Alan White, and his significant other, Margaret. Roger's legacy lives on through his three cherished granddaughters, who will remember him fondly for his warmth and wisdom. He also leaves behind a special friend, Jan Sawyer, whose companionship brought him joy in his later years.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Micah Voight officiating. Friends and family are invited to gather for a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the funeral home. Interment at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens will be private. Post condolences on parrfuneralhome.com.

Roger Payne White will be dearly missed by all who knew him. His spirit will live on in the hearts of those he touched, and his music will continue to resonate, a testament to a life well-lived.