Family Spotlight: Leatha Lamison-White

Leatha Lamison-White Inducted into Emerald Society at Norfolk State University, Sets Sights on Diamond Distinction

In December 2024, Leatha Lamison-White was inducted into the prestigious Emerald Society at Norfolk State University—a milestone that reflects not only her personal commitment to academic excellence and service, but also a legacy rooted in faith, perseverance, and generational progress.

A proud great-granddaughter of Charlie Blow, granddaughter of Langston Barnes and Rhea Mae Blow, and daughter of Beatrice Barnes and Wingate Lamison, Leatha Lamison-White carries forward a family story shaped by resilience. Raised with deep ties to rural Southampton County, Virginia, she understands firsthand the transformative power of education.

For Leatha Lamison-White, Norfolk State University is more than an institution—it is family. Seven siblings attended NSU, with five enrolled on campus at the same time. Together, they navigated the financial and personal challenges of higher education, leaning on one another and on a university community they describe as unwavering in its support.

Though the journey was not easy, Lamison-White credits NSU as instrumental in helping her family rise from the legacy of sharecroppers to professional careers across multiple fields. Beyond undergraduate preparation, the university also provided pathways to advanced degrees—both through its own graduate programs and through preparation for continued study at other institutions.

In a time marked by reductions in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and national uncertainty surrounding educational funding, Ms. Lamison-White emphasizes the importance of community and alumni investment. “We have to help our own,” she affirms—a conviction that led to tangible action.

In 2018, the Leatha Lamison-White Endowed Fund was established to sponsor scholarships for students whose GPAs fall between 2.0 and under 3.0. Unlike many merit-based scholarships that prioritize honor roll students, this fund intentionally supports what Ms. Lamison-White calls “the average student.”

“It is the average people,” she often notes, “who largely build and maintain the world.” Academic metrics, she believes, do not always measure resilience, leadership, or real-world effectiveness. By investing in students who may not qualify for traditional academic honors but demonstrate determination and potential, the fund seeks to expand opportunity where it is often overlooked.

Ms. Lamison-White views Norfolk State University as part of God’s greater plan to elevate her family and, through them, bless others. Her hope is that each generation will continue to pay it forward—using education, service, and faith as vehicles for collective advancement and God’s glory.

Now, as an Emerald Society member, Lamison-White has set her sights on a new goal: earning distinction as a Diamond Society member within the next three years. For her, this aspiration is not about recognition alone, but about deepening her impact—ensuring that future students, especially those who might otherwise be overlooked, receive the support they need to rise.

Her journey stands as a testament to the enduring power of family, faith, and historically Black institutions to transform lives—and communities—for generations to come.