Valery was born to the late John Taylor and Elsie Braxton Boykin of Tappahannock, Virginia. She lived in Newark, Delaware and was married to the late Ronald Calvin White. She worked as a caretaker for several years at Delaware State Hospital.

Val was selfless and kind to all she met, making everyone around her feel special and important. With the nick name "Val" her laid back personality drew people near. She touched many lives with her kind spirit and was the very proud mother of her two sons, calling them "My Ronnie and My Dyonnie". Seafood and a good hoagie were her favorite foods.

She is survived by her sons Ronnie Pollard and his wife Carla Pollard, Dyonnie Pollard, Grandchildren Amelia Pollard, Jaron Pollard, Jair Pollard, Tye lewis, Damani Brice, Dy'Mir Pollard, Kennedy Harmon, Ma Chi Harmon, Brianna Pollard, Tiara Radcliffe, Jeffery Durham, Darrin Durham, and Yeshua Ortiz. She is survived by her sisters, Margie Pollard, Ruby Long, Van Taylor, Emma Taylor, Pam Taylor and brothers Frank Taylor and Ernest Taylor.
She is preceded in death by her sisters, Elsie Mae Ransome, Mary Lou Elliot, Elaine Massy, Joyce Singleton and brothers Thomas Pollard and George Pollard.

She had many close friendships in her lifetime, with Pamela Bennett and Cora Johnson
being her two closest friends.