Attorney Chimeaka L. White

Attorney Chimeaka L. White

Justice4Pain

By Terry L. Watson

Photos Provided by Alphonso Abbott

"Proven"

While many accomplished individuals have accredited their success to that of pulling up their own bootstraps, that is not the case for Chimeaka White. Looking from the outside, it may appear that her ascension to becoming a prominent attorney came about from her following the traditional path that most lawyers do. Yet, that is far from Chimeaka’s reality. Her story expresses her faith in God, love and support from her family and friends, and an unwavering determination to win. More than anything, Chimeaka’s story is that of someone who is “Proven”. Chimeaka has proven not only to others but even to herself that regardless of what circumstances she may face, regardless of what life throws at her, nothing will stop her from reaching her goals.

Attorney Chimeaka White of Greensboro, NC, is the mother of two amazing adults, Harmony and Sincere. Chimeaka is a graduate of James B. Dudley High School. She also graduated from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry. She also received a Law Degree from North Carolina Central University. Today, she owns The White Law Firm, PLLC, located in High Point, NC, the first black female-owned and operated personal injury law firm in the Triad area. Her motto is “Justice4Pain”.

Chimeaka comes from a long list of strong women. She says that her success can be attributed to several key factors, including her upbringing, which instilled strong values in her, and the mentorship I received throughout her career. “I am inspired by my maternal great-grandmother, Evelyn Watson, who taught me the power of love and patience. She lived slowly and simply. My maternal grandmother, Margaret Hardy (Momo) taught me the importance of cultivating a spiritual practice. She has a strong relationship with God and taught me how to pray deep, strong prayers. My paternal grandmother, Lois White (Mama White), taught me not to have anything that I don’t plan on using. When you bring one thing into your house, remove three things from your house.”

It should come as no surprise that Chimeaka is an attorney. As a child, she wanted to become a prosecutor. While attending NC A&T, she thought about pursuing a career as a dentist. Prior to law school, she worked as a paralegal at a personal injury law firm. I worked alongside experienced paralegal Teresa Burney, who taught her how to manage car accident cases from the intake process to closing the file. This is where she gained her passion for the law. “I started my personal injury law firm in a spare bedroom in my home in 2017, immediately after passing the NC State Bar. I was doing everything. I was getting the cases, answering the phone, case management, and even responding to discovery requests after filing suit. My clients never knew that I did not have a physical office as I would meet them at coffee shops near their homes,” Chimeaka explains. After a few months of juggling so many things, her sister, who had just finished paralegal school, came on board to help. Today, she is a full-time employee at Chimeaka’s firm.

Chimeaka went to law school 10 years after obtaining her undergraduate degree. During those 10 years, she started several businesses, including Whitehouse Development Company, LLC, a real estate business, Sparkles Hair Studio, LLC, and Who’s That Lady, a costume jewelry company. She also subleased a space to another hair salon, managed a casket company, managed a student housing project for Livingston College, and worked as a paralegal. As a result of running those companies, she learned to read financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, annual reports, and calculating gross revenue. All of those skills are essential in her practice. “I am financially literate, and it has taught me how to have a clear actionable purpose that drives every decision and strategy. It also creates a solid framework for success, growth, and exceptional value to clients.”

I started my personal injury law firm in a spare bedroom in my home in 2017, immediately after passing the NC State Bar. I was doing everything. I was getting the cases, answering the phone, case management, and even responding to discovery requests after filing suit. My clients never knew that I did not have a physical office as I would meet them at coffee shops near their homes.

Chimeaka says she made the decision to become an attorney because she genuinely loves to help people. “After being bullied in middle school, I learned how to stand up for myself and others. One of the most defining experiences in my life occurred when I was just 18 years old. I was seven months pregnant with my daughter, Harmony, when I was involved in a serious car crash. I was driving a pickup truck, and a lady T-boned the truck on the driver’s side. My stomach hit the steering wheel extremely hard. Harmony was prematurely born two weeks after the crash. The insurance adjuster came to the hospital and convinced me to settle for pennies on the dollar. That traumatic event instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and a relentless drive for justice, and it has never left me. I know how it feels to be voiceless, to endure pain due to being afraid of standing up for yourself. This is why I became an attorney to fight for the rights of others. I do not allow people to be taken advantage of. I am a voice for the people,” she says.

Chimeaka also comes from humble beginnings. She is a fighter, survivor, mother, and friend. She is the third child born to Yvette White and Benjamin White, Jr. She has a younger sister, Crystal, and two older brothers, Darian (Dada) and Benjie. When Chimeaka was just four years old, her parents divorced, and with no permanent home, she, along with her mom and sister, depended on the love and support of relatives. “We hardly ever had reliable transportation. We walked everywhere. We walked to the grocery store and took a cab back home. We also lived in Lexington, NC, and I remember pulling dirty clothes in baskets on a wagon to the laundry mat a three-mile walk from our apartment. When I was 11 years old, my mom purchased a car for $500 from the auction, only for the car to catch a flat tire on the highway. That is when I learned how to change a tire,” she says.

Prior to moving to Lexington, Chimeaka attended Foust Elementary School in Greensboro. There, she learned to play the flute in the 4th grade. “My aunt Evelyn found me a flute at the Salvation Army thrift store,” she says. After school, she attended the Boys and Girls Club and learned how to shoot pool, cheer, and double-dutch. Her grandmother, Momo, lived four miles from the Boys and Girls Club and would walk to sign Chimeaka and her sister out. Together, the three of them walked back to Momo’s house.

“Although we did not have much, my mom taught us to be presentable,” Chimeaka says. “By the time I was eight, I ironed my clothes daily. Despite being poor, my mom made sure I had books to read. After accumulating so many books, my mom bought me a bookcase. Presently, I have a bookcase in my home and in both of my offices. I love to read.” Another request Chimeaka’s mother made was for her to attend church. Chimeaka shares that she enjoyed attending church and even sang as a soprano at Godly Love. At the young age of 12, Chimeaka began cleaning toilets and office buildings with Southside Cleaning Company. At 15 years old, she walked into McDonalds located on Highway 52 in Lexington and began working. She adds, “I wiped off tables and trays before a manager asked what I was doing. My response was that I needed a job.” Chimeaka was offered a job that same day.

Chimeaka’s mother and her children’s paternal grandmother, Ann Eaton, played a tremendous role in helping her raise her kids while attending college. During the summer months of college, Chimeaka worked three jobs, two full-time jobs during the week, and mowed grass and cleaned bus stations on the weekends. While attending law school, and due to the distant commute back and forth, Chimeaka’s mother moved into her home to offer even more assistance. “I am who I am today because of my mom and my children,” she says.

Chimeaka also credits Chris Stewart and Daedrea Fenwick, sexual assault attorneys in Atlanta, GA, for teaching her how to try and win her first case. “We successfully tried a sexual assault case in Forsyth County, NC, where a Residence Inn/ Marriott clerk gave a key card to an unregistered guest. That person used the key to enter our client’s room to rape and sodomize her. The trial lasted four days, and the jury deliberated for 90 minutes before giving us a $16M dollar verdict.” Chimeaka adds they also gave her three pieces of advice that she will never forget and will always live and work by: One, your name is your reputation. Do not let anything that has your name on it go out of the office without reviewing it first. Two, never stop working to improve your legal writing; it is a dying art, and attorneys who can write well stand out; this goes hand in hand with knowing how to argue a case. Finally, do not be in this for the money; you truly have to love what you do. “David v. Goliath is a daily battle with what we do. Just keep the faith.”

Attorney Mark Gray, Sr., of Greensboro, NC, and Attorney Harry Daniels, of Atlanta, GA, are also individuals she credits with impacting her career. She says Attorney Mark Gray, Sr. taught her never to take on a case that she would not be willing to take to trial. “He instilled in me the importance of preparing jury instructions early and using them as a roadmap for how I approach my cases,” she says. Attorney Harry Daniels inspired Chimeaka to practice Civil Rights law. “Our cases seek to acquire justice in wrongful death excessive force cases. Many of our clients would go unrepresented if we did not take their cases, as they are some of the most important in creating a free and fair society. She also thanks Attorney Erin Verdell Gattis and Attorney Sherry Ross for their love and support.

The life and career of an attorney can often be accompanied by a series of challenges. These may involve long hours and stress. Chimeaka shares that there is a lot of pressure to excel as an attorney and points out that making a mistake can cost clients dearly. That is one of the reasons she makes it a point only to accept cases she can successfully handle. “There is more to life than winning, but as a personal injury attorney, the win is important to our clients. Wins equate to providing care, treatment, and basic needs to a client after they have been injured due to no fault of their own. A win also means allowing the client and their family to recover and move beyond the incident, restoring and reviving their lives,” she says. “I work tirelessly to secure the funds my clients need to rebuild their lives following their injuries. I fight for the win. I fight for justice. My motto is Justice4Pain. Even more than that, I create relationships necessary to gain the trust of my clients. Positive client and attorney relationships are essential in successfully resolving a case.”

Chimeaka’s advice to others who may follow in her footsteps is very clear. “You can be whatever you want to be, but you will never be any more than what you think you can be. You have to create a plan; you must have discipline. Being a lawyer is challenging, but the experience is incredibly rewarding. The people you meet and the good you do make all of these challenges worth the headache. Also, don’t ever doubt your career path. If being a lawyer is what you’re passionate about, push forward with integrity and protect your reputation because that is all you have.”

Looking ahead, Chimeaka shares that it’s her goal to continue to grow her practice. “I always wanted to be the female version of trial lawyer Attorney Willie Gary,” she says. “Personally, I want true love to find me. In the meantime, I will continue to work on myself. I love working out, and I love to travel. Traveling assists my legal practice by providing additional points of connection with my clients.”

Attorney Chimeaka L. White

The White Law Firm, PLLC

2207 Eastchester Drive, Ste 101

High Point, NC 27265

336-884-7246

www.justice4pain.com