Franconia Residents Remember Local Homeless Woman
Saniye White, 55, was known and loved by a number of locals.
“Humble,” “smart,” and “sweet” are how Franconia residents described Saniye Tetik White, a local homeless woman who was found dead outside Franconia Government Center early Sunday morning.
White, 55, frequented Franconia Road around the government center, the Koinonia foundation and the 7-Eleven. Around 4:10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, a police officer leaving Franconia District Station discovered her body.
The news saddened many local residents, who had reached out to White over the last few years. “Two weeks ago I talked to her and it was when it was really, really hot and I took her some water and some food,” said one local who wished to remain anonymous.
Residents who got to know White in the years she lived in the Franconia area said she had a wonderful sense of humor and was very respectful. One resident called her a “survivor,” and said she did not always accept charity.
“She was very humble,” said Donna Musleh, a Franconia local who came to know White over the years. “She wouldn’t always take things that people offered her. She would say she was good, that she was happy. She didn’t try to get over on anybody.”
Musleh said that White had a son and daughter, and that she helped White to contact her son and meet with him on occasion. White loved her children very much, one resident said.
White was from Turkey, and Musleh spoke with her about going back. “Sometimes she would say she wanted to go back to her country,” Musleh said, “and I would say, ‘Okay, I can make an appointment with the embassy and I can take you to the Turkish embassy and we can make arrangements to get your paperwork done through them, and we can send you.’”
But White never followed through. During a phone interview with Patch, Musleh said she thought White might have been afraid of the unknown.
Residents said that White was resistant to accepting traditional help, such as homeless shelters and group homes run by Fairfax County, saying she disliked them and would be unable to get sleep.
“I was one of several people who called different county offices to see what kind of help could be given,” said another resident who asked to remain anonymous. “But she really didn’t want to go to anything like that and said she was happy with what she was doing.”
White did receive help from the Koinonia Foundation and Olivet Episcopal Church on Franconia Road. Residents said they would help her get clothes from both locations.
Musleh said she was trying to find a funeral home that abided by traditional Islamic funeral practices, as White was Muslim and very religious.
“We’re sad,” Musleh said, “and I want to make sure she gets the proper respect and the proper name on her burial site and gets to rest in peace the way we all will one day.”
One resident said she hoped White knew she was loved. "There are a lot of people in the area who loved her and looked out for her and I hope she knew that," she said. "We’d gotten used to seeing her."
In This article
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Fairfax County Police Department - Franconia District Station
6121 Franconia Rd, Alexandria, VA
A concerned mom
8:04 am on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Unfortunate I never got the chance to get to know her, although I would see her all the time around the Rose Hill area as well as up and down Franconia Road. RIP Saniye
Trish Hall
12:17 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Saniye was a good woman and will be remembered by the community as a friendly funny woman who appreciated our communites thoughtfulness in trying to give her what she needed to survive. She was a friend too all expescially my mother. My children and I will miss being greated by her smile. RIP
Connie Stiger
3:39 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
I am so sad to hear of her death. I work very close by, and it just broke my heart to see her out by Olivet church in all kinds of weather. I also tried to ger her some help from local non-profits, but she did not want their help. One of the non-profits who spoke with her told me that she seemed to be mentally challenged. I will always wonder if she somehow "slipped through the cracks" of the systems designed to provide help. God bless her.
Cindi Potter
4:28 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
RIP Saniye. There is dignity no matter where you call home. It was a pleasure to have you pass through my life -- and you taught me lessons about life it not about "the things" it is about the person you are. You will be missed!
Sharon
5:03 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Donna Musleh, Please keep us posted if you are able to arrange funeral services, I along with many would like to help in someway. Also, let us know how her children are doing and please let them know how the community felt about their Mom. Thank you for checking into what we can do in order for Saniye to have our continued respect to the final stage. Thank you!
Rosalie Brewster
8:21 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
i am heartroken to hear of her passing my children and i spent alot of time with her my grandchildren would go with me to see her they gave her gloves and scarfs i would take her food and give her money to buy whatever she needed christmas we gave her a wak mart gift card and so i took her she was a loving person and loved to just sit and talk we would talk about her son and how she got to where she was in her life she was very smart and loved her black and milds i will miss her she was a strong woman may she rest in peace in the arms of our lord
Donna Musleh
10:18 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Hi everyone my name is Donna Musleh and I want to first thank you all for your support and and compassion. There will be a funeral that myself and a man named Mr Saleh are in the process of organizing. I will post more info about it soon. Also if anyone would like to donate flowers for the funeral and or food for the repast that would be wonderful. Please feel free to contact me. I just want everyone to know that I am amazed and pleased with the overwhelming positive response to Saniye's passing. Thank you all so very much and may God bless you all. Donna Musleh 571 277 3730 or dmusleh1@gmail.com
Marie Walker
1:11 pm on Friday, August 12, 2011
When I first drove by the "homeless woman" I was stunned. Franconia doesn't have homeless people on the street, the big cities do - I thought. I live in a wonderful bubble in this town. As I continued to see her in my passings I would wonder how she got there, who is she, does she have any family? My grandson now knows what "homeless" means - as it was not your normal subject to explore with a 5 year old. Though Saniye (glad to know her name) and I never spoke, she opened my eyes. She was weathered and worn but created in the image of God, like me. She had dreams and desires and for whatever reason ended up in the unconvential day-to-day living on the streets of our community. How many more are there like Saniye? Perhaps they are in the shelters - but still weathered and worn with dreams and hopes. Saniye's passing has alerted me to look up and out beyond my comfy, cozy existence and see if there is something I can do for those invisible ones in homeless shelters. I hope Saniye's family realizes that she made a difference in my life.
briebrie nichole perez
2:18 pm on Friday, August 12, 2011
me and my aunt and my cousin gave her food after thanksgiving
briebrie nichole perez
2:18 pm on Friday, August 12, 2011
she was sleeping
Sharon
9:18 pm on Friday, August 12, 2011
Marie Walker
1:11pm on Friday, August 12, 2011
Your comment touched me, so elegantly put.
Donna Musleh
10:18pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011
Thank YOU Donna and God Bless YOU for ensuring that Saniye has dignity to the end!
Donna Musleh
10:26 am on Saturday, August 13, 2011
I have been working with the Islamic community for the funeral and i m waiting to here from a church about using the facility to have the repast. As soon as I receive confirmation I will post the information. If anyone is interested in donating food and flowers please contact me. Also hopefully we can put Saniye to rest tomorrow Sunday August 14th.
Donna Musleh
4:07 pm on Saturday, August 13, 2011
***UPDATE***Medical examiner has mandated before Saniye's body can be released to the Islamic Community for proper burial Sanye's family in Turkey must send written documentation relinquishing their rights to her. With the help of my friends, I located her brother and sister who reside in a small village in Turkey. My new obstacle is to help them locate a computer to send written statements. Due to the above I am going to exert my efforts on getting her a proper Islamic burial and forego the repast for now. I hope everyone understands. Sincerely Donna
Donna Musleh
4:09 pm on Saturday, August 13, 2011
***UPDATE***Medical examiner has mandated, before Saniye's body can be released to the Islamic Community for proper burial Sanye's family in Turkey must send written documentation relinquishing their rights to her. With the help of my friends, I located her brother and sister who reside in a small village in Turkey. My new obstacle is to help them locate a computer to send written statements. Due to the above I am going to exert my efforts on getting her a proper Islamic burial and forego the repast for now. I hope everyone understands. Sincerely Donna
Bj
10:38 am on Sunday, August 14, 2011
Saniye was a beautiful person and because she was homeless some peopple could not see past that...myself ...children and my mom all grew tp love her and could see the beauty God gave her...she was humble...loving and would be so happy to talk to u...I remember when winter was here we all went to 711 and my oldest daughter seen her and took off her gloves to give to her....she said mom I want her to have them...she is a nice lady and I can always get more...so RIP Saniye..u are home now angel watch over us
Donna Musleh
9:05 pm on Monday, August 15, 2011
***FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS for Saniye White***
Funeral Arrangements have finally been made. On Wednesday, August, 17, 2011 between 6:00-7:45pm, our gracious community member, Rose Brewster, will host an open house at 6935 Mary Caroline Circle, Unit G, Alexandria, VA 22310 to celebrate the life of Saniye White. She is accepting donations of food, desserts, and drinks. Her telephone number is (703) 341-6159.
The burial for Saniye will take place on Friday, August 19th, 2011 at the Aden Muslim Funeral Services. It is located at 1242 Easy Street, Woodbridge, VA 22191 (703) 490-1212. The funeral home service will take place at 10:30am. Afterwards, Saniye will be taken to the mosque for prayer at 1:00pm. Following the prayer service, she will be laid to rest at AMAA Cemetery, 1112 Brooke Road, Stafford, VA 22405.
In my quest to locate Saniye's family, I learned that her brother and sister in Turkey are poverty-stricken. Their situation is extremely dire. Perhaps in lieu of flowers, we should all make donations to them? If you agree, I am happy to set up a bank account with Burke & Herbert. However, if you would like to send flowers, the address of the funeral home above would be the appropriate place.
Will Radle
4:24 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Donna, thank you for your dedicated service to our community and helping people most in need.
joanna knoles
1:03 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Donna, I am deeply touched by your love, compassion and dedication for our Saniye. We could all learn something from you, after all, we are all connected and must take care of each other. Thank you so much and May God Bless You!
Sincerely, Joanna knoles
Donna Musleh
1:17 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thank you for your wonderful comment Joanna. And honestly I am deeply touched by the amazing response I have received about Saniye. I want to thank everyone for the support that I have been getting. So thank you all so much and may God bless all of you. Sincerely Donna
Pat Bazzel
2:52 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Thank you Donna for taking so much time to respect and show compassion to a fellow traveller. God is certainly smiling that there are people who are willing to live their faith. God bless Sanjye God bless you.
Donna Musleh
9:02 pm on Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Anyone who is interested in attending the funeral service and proceeding to the mosque out of respect to the Muslim community please where a head scarf if u wish to.
Donna Musleh
9:52 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
This evening at Rose's house was wonderful. I'm so glad I was able to finally meet everyone. It was nice to be able to put a face with a name. I want to thank Rose and her daughters for opening up their home to the community. Thank you all again for all your support. I would also like to give a special thanks to Peace and Love Ministry for giving me inspiration and the push to do Gods work, and giving me the vision to help those in need. Roger and Patricia Hall the founders of Peace and Love have been an amazing team in mentoring me to spread the love of God. Sincerely Donna Musleh
Therese
10:14 pm on Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Thank you Rose and Rose's daughters for hosting such a warm event to remember Saniye. It was so good to meet some of Franconia's angels tonight. God bless you all for your caring hearts. Maybe something that will help others in need can be started in memory and honor of Saniye.
S Gilkey
5:25 pm on Thursday, August 18, 2011
A special thank you to all those who reached out to Saniye and helped her feel a part of our community. Clearly she stayed here because she felt safe and was cared for in a way that was meaningful to her. For the rest of us who watched from afar, may her death and life story bring understanding about the homeless and allow us to reach out past our fears. Because as for Sanije and many others, the road to becoming homeless is surprisingly short.