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Family Council Recognizes Arkansas’ Ten Longest Married Couples

Apr 20, 2022Jerry CoxArkansas Longest-Married CoupleFamily, Longest Married Couple, Marriage

*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.

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Public Opinion Trends Towards Nuclear Family

Apr 4, 2022John StonestreetFamilyFamily, Parents and Family

According to Pew Research, a growing number of Americans are realizing the importance of the nuclear family.

Just three years ago, 40% of Americans agreed with the statement “single women raising children on their own is bad for society.” That number has now jumped to 47%. The same is true of cohabitation, which nearly a quarter of U.S. adults say is “generally bad for society.” That’s up 5% from three years ago.

It’s an encouraging swing for public opinion, especially with both trends still on the rise. Kids do best with both a mom and a dad in the picture. They do better still when mom and dad stay married to each other.

Of course, there are a plenty of heroic single parents raising kids on their own, who will do everything they can to help their kids succeed. Data isn’t destiny for all individuals, but it is destiny for a society. The loss of marriage is unsustainable. As the world leader in single-parent households, Americans will either have to reckon with that basic truth, or the next generations will continue to pay the price.

U.S. Leads World in Single-Parent Households

Mar 14, 2022John StonestreetFamilyFamily, Marriage

According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households. Almost a quarter of U.S. children under 18 live with one parent.

Of course, there are many heroic single parents courageously committed to raising their children. Still, decades of research show how costly it is for so many. Children of unmarried parents, on average, do worse in school, have poorer emotional and physical health, are more likely to commit crimes, and are more likely to have children out of wedlock themselves.

The sexual revolution decoupled sex from marriage while insisting “the kids will be fine.” Well, they’re not.

Christians must speak into this issue with truth and love, especially in a society that fosters adults to seek happiness at the expense of kids. Redefining and reinventing family structures, parenting, and marriage are having horrible consequences.

On Tuesday, March 15, we are partnering with Focus on the Family to address this topic. Katy Faust of Them Before Us will teach how Christians can stand for the rights of children. Register for the live stream at colsoncenter.org/events.