Above: Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of White Hall were honored at their church on Sunday in celebration of their 82 years of marriage.
On Sunday, April 24, Family Council honored Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple, Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of White Hall, for their 82 years of marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Whiteside have been married since July 24, 1939.
Sunday’s ceremony took place at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in White Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Whiteside received awards from Family Council honoring their lifetime commitment to one another. The couple also gave interviews to members of the media who were present.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson also issued a special letter recognizing the couple’s milestone.
Above: Arkansas’ Longest-Married Couple, Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside, give interviews to the media following a ceremony honoring them on Sunday.
Family Council recognized the Whitesides as Arkansas’ Longest-Married couple in 2019 and one of the state’s couples who had been married the longest in 2018.
Above: Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside attended Family Council’s 2018 Longest-Married Couple reception at the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of Whitehall, Arkansas have been recognized as Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. Married 82 years, they met at church and were married on July 24, 1939, in Clarendon, Arkansas. Cleovis, age 100, was 17, and Arwilda, age 96, was 13 when they married.
Family Council, a pro-family organization located in Little Rock, recognizes Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple each year. This marks the second time the Whitesides have been recognized as Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. Family Council Executive Director Jerry Cox said, “Mr. & Mrs. Whiteside are a shining example to us all. They made a marriage covenant with one another almost 83 years ago, and, by the grace of God, they kept it.”
Their story begins when Arwilda and her friend Caroline were walking home from school and some boys began to chase them. Caroline told Arwilda to run to Cleovis, because he would protect them. He did, and he made the boys leave Arwilda and Caroline alone. Years later, while attending a church box supper, Cleovis bought Arwilda’s box supper for twenty-five cents that she had prepared for the event. Caroline then commented that “one day Cleovis will be your husband.” And so, on July 24, 1939, Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside were married. It rained so hard on that day that only his parents, her family, his best friend Detroit, and the minister who trudged through the rain with his horse and buggy, were able to attend. The minister arrived at 11:00 that night to finally marry them at 11:30 just before midnight. The Whitesides have kept their marriage covenant ever since.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson recognized the couple’s milestone with a special letter. The couple will be honored in a ceremony at their church in White Hall, Arkansas, on April 24 where they will receive the Governor’s framed letter, an engraved silver platter, a Bible, flowers, and other gifts.
In addition to the Whitesides, Family Council released the names of Arkansas’ remaining top ten longest married couples.
Thell and Margie Ellison of Natural Dam
Everett and Ina Dell Wilson of Mabelvale
Wesley and Bernice Robertson of Camden
Charles and Ivalee Whedbee of Dayton
Allein and Jean Beall of Little Rock
George & Mary Catherine Martin of North Little Rock
Orin Ray & Imma Jean Robinson of Sherwood
Cecil and Eleanor Simonton of Rogers
Frank & Mary Lou Osbourne of Searcy
Anyone interested in adding a couple to Family Council’s Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple registry should contact Family Council in Little Rock.
LITTLE
ROCK, AR – For 79 years of marriage, Family Council will honor, Cleovis and
Arwilda Whiteside of White Hall, AR as Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. The
Whitesides, along with the Top Ten Longest Married Couples, will be celebrated at
a special dessert reception at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion with hosts
Governor Asa Hutchinson and First Lady Susan Hutchinson. This is Family
Council’s second year celebrating Arkansas’ Longest Married Couple. “We are
excited to continue this annual tradition of celebrating marriage and finding
Arkansas’ Longest Married Couples, and we are grateful to the Governor and
First Lady for helping us make this special occasion possible,” Jerry Cox,
President of Family Council said. “The Whitesides symbolize the good of
Arkansas, a state that has always valued marriage, family, and God. The
Whitesides, along with the Top Ten Longest Married Couples, will receive a
Special Letter of Recognition from Governor Hutchinson, and the Whitesides’
family and friends will be present to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Cleovis
and Arwilda Whiteside, respectively 97 and 93 years old, met at church in Clarendon,
Arkansas, when he was 13 and she was 9. The story begins when Arwilda and her
friend Caroline were walking home from school and some boys began to chase
them. Caroline told Arwilda to run to Cleovis, because he would protect them. He
did, and he made the boys leave Arwilda and Caroline alone. Several years later
while attending a church box supper, Cleovis bought Arwilda’s box supper that
she had prepared for a quarter, and Caroline then commented that “one day
Cleovis will be your husband.” And so on July 24, 1939, Cleovis and Arwilda
Whiteside were married. It rained so hard on that day that only his parents,
her family, his best friend Detroit, and the minister, who trudged through the
rain with his horse and buggy, were able to attend. The minister arrived at
11:00 PM to finally marry them at 11:30 PM. The Whitesides have kept their
marriage covenant ever since.
“Congratulations
to Arkansas’ Top Ten Longest Married Couples and a special salute to Cleovis
and Arwilda Whiteside on their amazing 79 year journey,” Ken Yang, Director of Governmental
Affairs of Family Council and the event’s coordinator said. Family Council is
honored to have the opportunity to celebrate couples who exemplify devotion to
God and their marriage covenant. Along with the Whitesides, the Top Ten Longest
Married Couples will be honored at a special reception at the Governor’s
Mansion Friday, March 1st. These are Arkansas’ Top Ten Longest
Married Couples:
Cleovis and Arwilda Whiteside of White Hall –
79 years, married July 24, 1939
Cecil and Lois Robertson of Heber Springs – 79
years, married September 8, 1939
Gussie and James Stephenson of North Little
Rock – 79 years, married December 25, 1939
Thell and Margie Ellison of Natural Dam – 77
years, married June 24, 1941
Bill and Freda McClain of Little Rock – 76 years,
married June 20, 1942
Grady and Wilma Adcock of Hot Springs – 76
years, married July 3, 1942
JC and Avanelle Merritt of Greenbrier – 76
years, married July 6, 1942
Cliff and Louis Ganus of Searcy – 75 years,
married May 27, 1943
Doug and Kathleen Freeman of Sherwood – 74
years, married December 16, 1944
Earl and Ina Disheroon of Harrison – 73 years,
married May 1, 1945
Stories and pictures of Arkansas’ Longest Married Couples of 2019 will be released on our website the week of the reception.
