Cleovis Whiteside, part of Arkansas’ longest active marriage, dies at 102

Cleovis Whiteside, one-half of Arkansas’ longest active married couple — a marriage that was also believed to be the longest-active in the nation — has died, the Jefferson County sheriff said in a statement Sunday night.

Whiteside, of White Hall, was 102 and had been married to the former Arwilda Kelley for 84 years and almost 9 months.

“His presence, wisdom, and remarkable legacy have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. said in a statement.

“I am deeply honored to have celebrated alongside Mr. Whiteside, his beloved wife Arwilda, and their community, marking the extraordinary milestone of their union — the oldest in the State of Arkansas, established on July 24, 1939. Their enduring bond has been a beacon of love and commitment, inspiring generations.”

Jerry Cox of Family Council, a Little Rock-based conservative political organization, said Whiteside died Saturday night.

Woods added that the Whitesides have been long revered by the community and beyond. Then-Gov. Asa Hutchinson sent a letter to the Whitesides in 2022, and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Ark., whose 4th District includes Jefferson County, honored the couple with a resolution on the House floor last September.

Their marriage, Woods said, embodies the essence of devotion and partnership.

“When envisioning the epitome of a harmonious marriage, one needs to look no further than Mr. and Mrs. Whiteside,” Woods said.

Family Council first honored the Whitesides as Arkansas’ longest-married living couple in 2019 and, in a statement via text Sunday, acknowledged them as the nation’s longest-married living couple before Mr. Whiteside’s passing.

“Cleovis Whiteside lived a long and productive life,” Cox said. “He was a faithful husband, father, and church member. His goal in life was to glorify God. He ran the race that was set before him and he won. Until his passing, he and his beloved wife, Arwilda, were the longest living married couple in the United States of America. They set the gold standard for marriage.

“At Family Council our prayers are with his family and friends. We look forward to that future brighter day when we will meet him again in Heaven.”

Eugene and Doris Gladu were recognized with the Guinness World Record for longest marriage for a living couple in July 2021 at 81 years and 57 days (married May 25, 1940, in Rhode Island). The longest verified marriage in world history was Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher of North Carolina, who were married for 86 years and 290 days when Herbert Fisher died on Feb. 27, 2011.

The Whitesides were originally from Clarendon. They married when Cleovis was 17 and Arwilda was 13.

As shared by Family Council, their story began when Arwilda’s friend Caroline told her to run to Cleovis so he would protect her from boys who were chasing them after school. Years later, when Arwilda prepared a box supper for a church event, Cleovis bought it to share with her for 25 cents.

“One day, Cleovis will be your husband,” Caroline reportedly told Arwilda.

As the story continued, a minister traveled on horse and buggy in heavy rain to get to the Whitesides’ wedding by 11 p.m. on July 24, 1939. They were wed at 11:30 p.m.

They settled in the Pine Bluff area by 1950. Cleovis worked at the Pine Bluff Arsenal for 34 years, and Arwilda was a homemaker.

The two had 12 children (nine living), 42 grandchildren, 101 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great grandchildren as of last September.

“As long as you do what you’re supposed to do, it’s no telling how long time will last,” Cleovis Whiteside said last September.