Margaret Ella Whiteside

Margaret Ella Wilson Whiteside, 87, of Charlotte, peacefully left this world and joined her heavenly family on December 19, 2022, from the home she and her husband built back in 1967. Margaret was born into a tobacco and cotton sharecropper’s family on July 28, 1935, the daughter of Dewey Clontz and Macy Wilson. Her father died when she was three and Margaret was raised by her grandparents. She grew up in Mint Hill, graduating from East Mecklenburg High School in 1954. Margaret played basketball in high school and was very fashionable, even winning a beauty contest. When Margaret moved out, she moved downtown and worked at Belks while living in a house converted to an apartment. In 1955, while spending time at “Angelo’s” on 4th and Kings, she met a young sailor named Bobby Whiteside. It turns out “Angelo’s” was owned by Bobby’s friend and he had set up their “chance” encounter. They dated every night for the next two weeks before his leave ended and he returned to his assignment. Both felt that they had met their life partner and following his honorable discharge from the US Navy on March 28, 1955; Bobby and Margaret were married in York, South Carolina, on March 10, 1956. They were blessed with three children, all girls. They built their forever home on the lake on Randy Drive. Her love of fashion led to a rare feature in those days, a walk-in closet just for her and her fashion accessories to make sure she was ready for anything the occasion required. Margaret went back to work doing bookkeeping at Blythe Brothers and then later, Laxton Construction. Margaret was very sociable, and enjoyed hosting parties at the home.Of course, it did not hurt that Margaret loved to go fishing and loved cooking. Margaret was also a bargain shopper and loved deals. She combined this with her love of others by always buying things not just for herself, but to give to others. As a family, Margaret and Bobby loved to travel and take their family to the beach and to the mountains. Rather than get hotel rooms, they would buy condos in those places so that they always had a place to stay when they would travel. We all know “The Candy Man”, but Margaret was known as “The Candy Lady” as she always had a pocket full to give out to any children that wanted some. No matter how you encountered her in life, you made a friend for life as she was remembered fondly and loved by all. Margaret is survived by three daughters: Donna Wall of New Port Richey, FL; Patty (husband Scott) Williams of Dallas, Texas; and Teresa Whiteside of Charlotte; six grandchildren: Chris (wife Sonja von Bell) Wall, Jennifer (Jesse) Salber, Sean (Tanya) Hicks, Amber (Michael) Schmidt, Brittany O’mary, Candice (Mathias) Evers; great grandchildren: Kinley, Eleanor, Sienna, Michael, Ethan, Evelina, Daniel, Nathaniel, Gabriel, Daxton, and one soon to be; two brothers: Houston (Jamie) Wilson and John Hall; and numerous other family and friends. Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby, in 2013. You can find his information online https://www.loweneddofuneralhome.com/obituaries/Bobby-Whiteside/#!/Obituary Margaret’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for her and for them. Visitation will begin at 1 pm on Thursday, January 5, at the funeral home, 4715 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews NC 28105. Services will be held in the funeral home chapel at 2 pm and be led by Pastor Richard Hogg of Margaret’s home church, St Thomas Lutheran Church. Following the service, Margaret will be taken to her final place of earthly rest next to Bobby at Sunset Memory Gardens, 8901 Lawyers Road, Charlotte, NC 28227.

Margaret Ella Whiteside

July 28, 1935 - December 19, 2022