Leo White

Leo White, Veldra Anderson & Hattie White 1970s

Leo Cornelius White was the father of our late tribal historian Lois Burns Jenkins. With Gurtine Burns Howard, my grandfather Leo had two daughters. What is known about him was that he had been adopted into the White family. He was born on February 16, 1929 to his biological parents Emma McClellan Chester & James Payne. He grew up as an only child to his adoptive parents Hattie Bruce and Lewis White.

Leo had the chance to know his biological parents and his maternal brother and sisters later in life thanks to his maternal aunt known as Aunt Virgil McClellan Wise who was residing in Gary, Indiana. At the time when Leo met his biological family he was 29-years-old. He met Aunt Virgil (also known as Aunt Virge) in Gary, Ind and then later went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to meet his biological mother Emma Chester.

He was also brought to Newton Falls, Ohio to meet with his biological father James Payne who was reported to have commented that they "had found that boy". He knew he saw his son seeing his height (about 6'2" or 6'3")  and his big feet.

Unfortunately Leo didn't appear to have a close relationship with his biological father's family. Though he had a closer relationship with his biological mother and his siblings. Even raised his younger brother Lanell Chester in Chicago, IL after their mother Emma Chester had passed away in 1964.

In fact both of his biological parents had passed away either around or in the aftermath of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy - which occurred on November 22, 1963.

Aunt Virgil (Virge) McClellan Wise

How did Aunt Virge find her nephew?

According to his daughter (our late tribal historian), Aunt Virge had asked her younger sister Emma for permission to look for Leo. Emma gave Aunt Virge permission to seek out her first born son and she  sought out a connection that lived in Memphis, Tennessee. The identity of this connection is unknown, but they knew to get into touch with the White family who lived in Mound Bayou, Mississippi.

Leo's adopted mother Hattie left it up to him whether or not he wanted to meet his biological family and  Leo ultimately decided to do so and took a trip to Gary, Ind to meet his Aunt Virge. What I'm sorry I never had the chance to ask our tribal historian was when did Leo move to Chicago.

Another interesting thing about the McClellan family is that at one point in time they also had lived in Mound Bayou, MISS. My mother reported that her great-uncle Leroy McClellan - Emma and Virge's brother - had discussed what he remembered about living there. Looking through census records it appears that they moved around a lot at first being found in Arkansas until they at first arrived in Ohio - possibly near Newton Falls, OH and eventually Emma McCllelan  arrived in Pittsburgh, PENN having married a James Chester.

Aunt Virge and her family - she had married into the Wise family - had initially settled in Newton Falls, Ohio. Eventually the Wise family settled in Gary, IND.

The Payne family through a variety of records found via Ancestry.com - primarily census records or even birth or death certificates had their roots in the state of Georgia. James Payne and his family have their roots in Milan, Georgia.

Leo's brother and sisters

Unfortunately, it appears that James Payne had no other children. However, Leo had some cousins from his father's brother Clifton and sister Willie.

Emma Chester on the other hand had Joan, Earl (who died as a child), Gail, Carol, Charlene (Aishah Ghaffar), and Lanell. All of them have since transitioned, Leo was reported to have enjoyed his relationship with his maternal brother and sisters. As stated earlier Leo finished raising his younger brother Lanell in Chicago.

Lanell spent most of his life in the Chicago area. Gail & Carol resided in Gary, IND and Gail owned a lounge there with her husband. Joan remained in Pittsburgh, PENN. Charlene (Aishah Ghaffar) primarily resided in California although at the time of her transition she was in Pittsburgh.

Leo's paternal family

I recently had a call with my closest Payne relatives. Basically his first cousin and her daughter who are related to his biological paternal uncle Clifton Payne. That side of the family was said to be very large which I know from my own research.

Brothers James and Clifton were steelworkers in their adopted hometown of Newton Falls, Ohio. In fact they were among the first Black workers hired at a steel mill there. Clifton was said to be the point-man for any new Black steelworkers he was the one training them making sure they were solid according to his daughter.

The Payne family were known for being very outspoken. James Payne's father Arthur was known as a postmaster, however, he was shot in a confrontation with a white man. Peter Payne was said to have finished raising James and his brother Clifton. I was also told that Clifton had a son who was outspoken against racism had achieved the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict.

There is family that lives in places such as Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Monessen, Pennsylvania; Rockaway, Queens, New York; New Jersey; Chicago-area.

I've been able to take my research as far as a Charlie Payne and a Zylophia Payne - who was said to have come fresh off a slave ship. It's not known how many children they had however Leo is descended through Peter Payne. In my thrulines on Ancestry Peter had a brother named Benjamin and a sister named Markie.

Published: February 12, 2025

Edited: February 17, 2025