BIRTHDAY

Fairfield Recorder newspaper - Thursday February 23, 2006 edition

For Vida Whiteside. . .
Family celebrates birthday

A surprise party honoring the ninetieth birthday of Vida Jane Whiteside 
took place Saturday at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Fairfield.

Mrs. Whiteside was born Vida Jane Lancaster on February 9, 1916 in Dew 
and graduated from Dew high school in 1934. She has lived her whole life 
in Freestone county and moved to Fairfield 61 years ago.

Mrs. Whiteside married William Oscar Whiteside on February 8, 1936 - 
the day before her twentieth birthday - and has five children; four boys 
and one girl ranging in age from 61 to 52. She also has 12 
grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren.
After working in a sewing factory in Fairfield for several years, Mrs. 
Whiteside started her own sewing business at Second Acre, which she ran 
for five years. Although an injury prevented her from continuing her 
business, she still likes to sew and does alterations from time to time.
She also loves to read the Bible and the local newspapers.

Mrs. Whiteside says the party Saturday was definitely a welcome 
surprise, with 85 well-wishers present and family coming in from as far away 
as Florida and St. Louis, Missouri.

About 13 of the birthday party were members of the Cornerstone Church.
When asked which memory stands out most in her mind today, Mrs. 
Whiteside says, "My children. I just live for them, to take care of them."
Mrs. Whiteside describes herself as an "everyday common person", who 
gets sad sometimes but doesn't let things keep her down for long.
"I always get out of it," she says. "I keep myself busy."