Edwina White Lockwood
Edwina June “Eddie” White (Higel), beloved mother, sister, aunt, and proud Sarasota native, passed away surrounded by the love of her family. Born on January 26, 1941, in Sarasota, Florida, Eddie was the daughter of Capt. Ed White and Eleanor Higel White of Siesta Key, and a cherished member of one of the area’s pioneering families, the Higels of Siesta Key and Venice.
Eddie grew up along the quiet canals of Siesta Key, where her parents worked in the shrimping industry and where the rhythms of the water shaped her earliest memories. She attended Southside Elementary and graduated from Sarasota High School Class of 1959. Her deep appreciation for local history led her to become an active member of the Sarasota Historical Society, where she enjoyed celebrating and preserving the stories of the area she loved so dearly.
A gifted storyteller, Eddie wrote local poetry and short stories inspired by the places and people around her. Among her favorites was a piece about the old “Humpback” bridge on Siesta Key—a landmark woven into her childhood and backdrop of many of her family’s shrimping days. Her writing, like her life, reflected a deep affection for Sarasota’s past and the simple beauty of growing up by the water.
Creative, and endlessly imaginative, Eddie also found joy in sewing her signature handbags—each one stitched with care and personality. Her work was admired by many and featured annually at the Sanibel Shell Show. She also participated in local craft fairs at the historic Phillippi Creek Mansion, where her artistry and warm spirit were always on display.
Eddie is survived by her two children, Charlie Campbell Jr. of Sarasota and Laura Campbell-Burns of Sarasota; her brother Harry “Gordon” White of Sarasota; and her sister Cynthia “Cindy” Naughton of Ocean City, Maryland. She is also survived by her former husband, Charles Campbell of West Virginia; her brother and sister-in-law, Craig and Judy Stavnes of Lexington, Kentucky; her nephew Matthew of Los Angeles, California; her nieces Kathleen, Kristeen, and Allison Naughton of Ocean City, Maryland; her nieces Teal White of Sarasota and Tiffany White of West Palm Beach; her niece Lisa Goldstrom of West Virginia, her niece Marie Goodwin-Armes of Junction, Texas; and her great-nieces Keeley Smith and Tea Fowler-Reeves.
She was predeceased by her parents, Ed and Eleanor White; her sister Sara White-Ringling of Texas; her brother Edwin James White Jr. of California; her sister-in-law Joyce “Tina” White; her nephews Parke, Scotty and David Goodwin of Texas; and her infant brother Edwin, who passed away six days after birth.
Eddie’s legacy is one of creativity, family devotion, and deep Florida roots. Her gentle spirit, artistic hands, and love for her hometown will be remembered by all who knew her. She will be interred at Rosemary Cemetery, with a celebration of life to be held in March 2026.
