Former NFL star Reggie White died Sunday morning at his home near Huntersville, N.C., his wife said. White turned 43 on Dec. 19.
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A public viewing service for White will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at A.L. Jinwright Funeral Service in Charlotte. A private service also will be held, though the details won't be made public, the funeral home said.
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Sara White confirmed her husband's death saying that she believes White died of respiratory failure related to his sleep apnea.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that White died of a massive heart attack.

An autopsy is to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

"Today our beloved husband, father and friend passed away," Sara White said through the pastor. "His family appreciates your thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of Reggie White. We want to thank you in advance for honoring our privacy."

Reggie and Sara White have two children, Jeremy and Jecholia.

Reggie White was born in December 19, 1961 and is a graduate of Howard High School in Chattanooga.

Reggie White, nicknamed the "Minister of Defense" (a dual reference to his football prowess and to his Evangelical Christian ordination) was one of the American football's most prolific sackers in college, the USFL and the NFL.

White played football at the University of Tennessee, setting school records for most sacks in a career, season and game, records he still holds.

After college, White signed on with the Memphis Showboats of the USFL, playing with them for two seasons, racking up 23.5 sacks, 192 tackles and seven forced fumbles in 34 starts.

After the USFL folded, Reggie White moved to the NFL and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played with the Eagles for eight seasons, picking up 124 sacks and becoming the Eagles' all-time sack leader. He also set a then-record season-best with 21 sacks in 1987.

In 1993, White went to the Green Bay Packers, where he played for six more seasons. While not as prolific as his previous years, White still notched another 68.5 sacks, becoming the Packers' all-time leader in that category. He also helped the Packers to two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

Following the 1998 season, Reggie White announced his retirement, but in 1999, he got the urge to play again and signed with the Carolina Panthers for the 2000 season. However, he only had a lackluster performance, making just 15 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Following the 1999 season, White again retired.

At the time of his retirement, White was the NFL's all-time sacks leader, with 198.

"I will always miss the locker room and the guys, but I know God's will for me to move on to other challenges because it's not in me like it used to be," White said at the time of his retirement.

He raised controversy in 1998 when he publicly condemned homosexuality. White, an ordained minister, spoke before the Wisconsin State Assembly, saying, "We've allowed this sin [homosexuality] to run rampant in our nation, and because it has run rampant in our nation, our nation is in the condition it's in today."

White was also caught in the middle of the arson scares at predominantly African-American churches during the mid-1990s. The Inner City Church in Knoxville, TN a church where White was an associate minister, was burned to the ground in 1996. However, an outpouring of financial support, in part because of White's celebrity, helped to rebuild the church.

Brief football biography

School & College

Graduated from Howard High School winning All-State in Basketball and All-American in Football and Basketball.

Player of the Year in Chattanooga Tennessee, 2-Sport Player of the Year in the nation with Patrick Ewing 1st runner-up.

Still holds the Tennessee records for sacks in a career, a single-season and a game.

Selected as a consensus All-American and SEC Player of the Year as a senior.

Selected in his final season as a finalist for the Lombardi Award, which is awarded on an annual basis to the country's outstanding college lineman.

Played in both the Hula Bowl and the Japan Bowl after his senior season. Named MVP of the Japan Bowl.

USFL

Pro career began 1984 with the Memphis Showboats

Registering 11 sacks in his first season landed him on the all-rookie team

In 34 starts he registered 23.5 sacks, 192 tackles (120 unassisted) and forced 7 fumbles.

NFL

In eight years with the Philadelphia Eagles, he finished with more sacks, 124, than games played, 121, the only player in NFL history to have done that.

1985 Named NFL Defensive Rookie of the year.

In Dec 1990 Reggie was a significant participant in one of the low points of the Packer's "Gory Years" registering 1 1/2 sacks, six knockdowns, two passes batted at the line and a forced fumble (Philly-31: GBP-0).

Eagles all-time sack leader: 124

Joining the Packers in 1993, Reggie had an immediate impact, steering the team's defense ranking from 23 to 2 in a single season.

Selected in 1994 to the 75th anniversary NFL 'All Time Team'
Missed his only non-strike game of his NFL career Dec. 10, 1995 vs. Tampa Bay due to a hamstring injury.

At the time of his retirement was the NFL all time sack leader with 198 from 15 seasons (Note: Bruce Smith in his 19th season overtook Reggie in Dec 2003 when he tackled New York Giants QB Jesse Palmer for a 7-yard loss)

Packers all time sack leader: 68.5 (up till 14 Dec '98)

Only player to have 10 or more sacks in 9 consecutive seasons.

Reached 100 sacks in 93 games, 21 games quicker than #2 Lawrence Taylor

Has sacked 73 different quarter backs.

Tied for most consecutive seasons as sack leader: 2 (1987-88)

Second most sacks in a season: 21

Tied for most post season sacks: 12
Superbowl Record: 3 sacks

Tied for Pro Bowl Record: 4 sacks (Elway x 3 & Marino x 1)

Selection to a record 14 consecutive Pro Bowls

Awarded UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year a record 3 times (1987, 1991 & 1995)

In his final season with the Packers he finished second in the NFL with 16 sacks and was selected for the seventh time in the Associated Press All-Pro team.

Reggie was also selected as the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the year an honour he was also awarded in 1987 with Philadelphia.

In his six seasons with the Packers they enjoyed a 66-30 regular-season record. In the previous six seasons, the team was 38-56-1.

After a year off in 1999 Reggie signed with the Carolina Panthers for the 2000 season but after a lack lustre season notching only 5.5 sacks announced his retirement once again.