The Rev. Ralph White, a South Memphis preacher at Bloomfield Full Gospel Baptist Church, died Saturday while officiating a funeral.

Dr. Keith Norman, White’s nephew-in-law and pastor of First Baptist Church Broad in Binghampton, confirmed White’s death. He was 71.

“In my words, I say the conversation between he and God was so strong that God told him to just come on to heaven and finish the conversation,” Norman said.

White, a native Memphian, was the founder of God So Loved Prayer and Outreach Ministry, according to his biography on the church’s website. He was also involved with several community organizations.

He and his wife, Janet White, were married for 39 years and had three children and seven grandchildren, according to the biography.

At church services Sunday morning, Janet White said her husband died doing what he loved.

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"Some people thought we wouldn't have church this morning. Pastor White would have rolled over, three or four times," she said. "My husband would have wanted us to go on."

She told the congregation, many of whom were wearing red shirts with the phrase "God so Loved," a reference to John 3:16, that there was no shame in grief or crying and that they should find comfort in God.

Pastor J.E. Lewis of Rehoboth Outreach Ministry Church Of God In Christ joined the congregation at Bloomfield Baptist Sunday morning. He said he wanted to express his support for Janet White.

"I could not in good conscience let this day go by without making a physical appearance for mother White," he said.

Lewis described Ralph White as a "unique" man and said no one would ever be able to take his place.

White was heavily involved in the Memphis community throughout his life, participating in various organizations and events that aimed to spur action in the city. Norman said White fought to remove guns from the streets, keep local businesses open and for economic opportunities for young people.

''We're very aware of the problems in the community, and we know they're not going to be solved by remaining confined to the church,” White told The Commercial Appeal in 1995.

Among the organizations he was involved in, according to the church, were: Citizens for Community Values of Memphis, Shelby County Domestic Violence Task Force and Promise Keepers International, for which he was the West Tennessee Field Representative.

White is listed on the Memphis Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board’s website as its vice chair and previously chaired the citizen board reviewing Memphis police misconduct allegations.

“Ralph was just a visionary guy, and this was who he was from high school,” Norman said. “He was the kind of person who embodied this type of mission, a calling from the Lord.”

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In 2017, White sued the City of Memphis in an attempt to “collect a $50,000 reward for arranging the surrender two years ago of accused cop-killer Tremaine Wilbourn,” The Commercial Appeal reported previously.

"These kids trust me. They come back to me. There’s already (enough) distrust with police and the people,'' said White at the time, who grew up in Memphis’ Riverview neighborhood like Wilbourn did.

Several took to social media to pay respects to White.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland posted about White's death on Twitter Saturday afternoon, saying White was "a good man who leaves a strong legacy for Memphis" who he knew for 25 years.

"We have lost a true soldier in the fight for equality, dignity and truth in Reverend Ralph White," Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, said in a Twitter post. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the congregation of Bloomfield Baptist Church. He was a true voice and leader in our communities. He will be truly missed."

Interim University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd said on Twitter that White “was a friend and an inspiration and will be missed by all.”

Bloomfield Baptist Church is more than 100 years old. White had served at the church for 33 years, according to the church website.

Funeral arrangements are pending, Norman said.

Commercial Appeal reporter Corinne Kennedy contributed to this story.

Max Garland covers FedEx, logistics and health care for The Commercial Appeal. Reach him at max.garland@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2651 and on Twitter @MaxGarlandTypes.