HOUSTON, TX — On November 19, 2025, during International Restorative Justice Week, Restorative Houston will honor the life and legacy of Dr. Linda L. White, a beloved Houstonian and national leader in restorative justice who passed away on July 3, 2025. Mayor John Whitmire has proclaimed November 19 as Dr. Linda L. White Legacy Day in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to healing, reconciliation, and justice.
Dr. White’s life’s work emerged from unimaginable loss. In 1986, her 26-year-old daughter, Cathy, was murdered. Rather than allowing tragedy to harden her, Dr. White chose a path of dialogue and understanding—ultimately meeting face-to-face with one of the men responsible for her daughter’s death. This courageous act of forgiveness and humanity was documented in Meeting with a Killer: One Family’s Journey, which has inspired people around the world.
Following her daughter’s death, Dr. White returned to college to study grief and loss so she could help others navigate trauma and healing. She earned her B.S. and M.A. in Psychology from Sam Houston State University and her Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, where her dissertation explored Texas’ Victim-Offender Mediation/Dialogue program in cases of extreme violence. Her unique combination of scholarship and lived experience positioned her as a national voice for restorative justice and victim support.
Over the decades, Dr. White’s work touched thousands of lives. She collaborated with Bridges to Life and the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth; taught inside prisons; mentored students; and spoke across the globe about empathy, accountability, and the possibility of reconciliation even after profound harm.
“It is our hope that this day will uplift Linda’s name in her hometown so that her legacy motivates us to advocate for healing justice,” said Anita Wadhwa, Executive Director of Restorative Houston.
The Dr. Linda L. White Legacy Day Proclamation Ceremony will take place virtually on Wednesday, November 19, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. CST via Zoom.
November 19 | 10:00–10:30 a.m. CST
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zXAb8R9fQVWIaLWUX5rYJg<https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zXAb8R9fQVWIaLWUX5rYJg>
The proclamation is part of Restorative Houston’s weeklong series of virtual events <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15KV4dNxrZPImuL_IK4S26ZLlCe0jsyG_SLv0SFbjxtg/preview> celebrating International Restorative Justice Week, featuring conversations and learning spaces centered on healing, connection, and community.
With this proclamation, the City of Houston affirms Dr. White’s enduring impact as a scholar, teacher, mentor, and model of compassion—and recognizes her as a true daughter of Houston whose life’s work continues to inspire victims, survivors, and all who seek justice rooted in humanity.
