The 5th Annual WinterFest504! 12/13/2026

• Form at Gilbert Stadium
• Travel down Dante St. to Earhart Blvd. 
• Make a left on Earhart Blvd. 
• Travel down Earhart Blvd to Audubon St. 
• Make a left on Audubon St. 
• Travel down Audubon St. to Forshey St. 
• Make a left on Forshey St.
• Disband: Norwood Thompson Park (7200 Forshey St.)

Mrs. Almedia P.J. Phoenix was a loving and caring community leader who loved her Gert Town community.  She would collected names for Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, wait in long lines at food giveaways to deliver them to families who had food insecurities, cooked for community elders, participated in community clean ups, and was a leader at her church home.  Her motto was "Buckle up with Jesus!"

Her love, passion, and service to Gert Town led to her active role on the Greater New Orleans Foundation's Gert Town Community Fund Advisory Board.

IMPACT504 is honored and proud of the support, love, and guidance she always provided as we served Gert Town!

 Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. John Thomas "J. T." White, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, pastor, teacher, community advocate, and servant of God was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 10, 1938 to the late Johnny and Gussie Brown White. 

     In October 1979, Reverend White answered the call of God to preach the Gospel under the pastorate of the late Reverend Robert C. Blakes, Sr.  He was licensed to preach in 1982 and ordained in 1986 under the auspices of the Louisiana Freedmen Missionary Baptist General Association, then led by Reverend Willie Earl Hausey. From 1980 to 1986, he faithfully served as an Associate Minister of the St. John Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Louis Smith.

     On August 16, 1986, Reverend White was elected Pastor of the Greater King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church and was subsequently installed under the auspices of the Louisiana Freedmen Missionary Baptist General Association and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  As a faithful and obedient under-shepherd, he preached and taught God'sWord with love, wisdom, and understanding, guiding countless souls to spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with Christ. As a result, multitudinous witnesses have grown, are growing, and can speak boldly for the cause of Christ. 

     After 39 years of devoted service and faithful pastoral leadership, Reverend White retired as Pastor of Greater King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church in May, 2025, leaving an enduring legacy of faith, excellence, and service. 

     Pastor White was a lifelong learner and passionate advocate for education.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University A&M  College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later received a Master of Divinity from Union Baptist Theological Seminary in 1987.  His pursuit of knowledge continued through doctoral studies in 1988, reflecting his commitment to  both academic excellence and spiritual growth.  In recognition of his distinguished ministry and decades of faithful service, Reverend white was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Christian Bible College of Louisiana in June 2025, one month after he retired from active pastoral leadership.

 Throughout his ministry, Reverend White faithfully served in numerous religious capacities at the local, state, and national levels.  His dedication to advancing the Kingdom of God led him to serve as First Vice President of the Louisiana Freedmen Missionary Baptist General Association, in addition to serving as a board member and advisor; he was an active member of the Louisiana Home and Foreign Mission Baptist State Convention, and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.  Committed to Christian education, Reverend White was a certified Instructor with the Department of Christian Education of the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.  He also maintained fellowship and collaboration with clergy throughout the region as a member of the United Baptist Pastors' Alliance of New Orleans and Vicinity, Inc.

Reverend White's commitment to serving others extended beyond the walls of the church.  A passionate advocate for community development and social responsibility, he founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of the Gert Town Community Development Center.  His civic engagement also included active participation in All Congregations Together (ACT), Congregations United for Revitalization and Evangelism (CURE).  Reverend White also served as a board member of the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the Gert Town Revitalization Initiative (GRI).

     A respected community activist and a champion for the underserved, Reverend White worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others, promote neighborhood development, community empowerment, advocate for equality, and strengthen neighborhoods throughout the greater New Orleans area.  Through both his ministry and public service, Reverend White dedicated his life to uplifting individuals, strengthening families, and improving the communities he so loved.