in addition to his law instruction, white was an active member of the romney literary society. when the act of incorporation for romney academy was amended by the virginia general assembly on march 25, 1839, white was appointed as a trustee along with other prominent romney area residents david gibson, angus william mcdonald, daniel mytinger, and john kern, jr. the 1839 act authorized any of the five appointed trustees of romney academy to fill vacancies on the board "occasioned by death, resignation, removal, or legal disability", thereby preventing future prolonged vacant trustee seats.