Mrs. Harriett Lou Robinson Whitesides "Mama Lou" , age 93, died Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at her home. She was born July 2, 1919, in Lancaster County, the daughter of the late Richard Baxter Robinson and Daisy Juliana Bennett Robinson and was the wife of the late Rev. Robert Alexander Davis Whitesides.

Mrs. Whitesides grew up in Lancaster and graduated from Winthrop College. She married in 1943 and she volunteered along with her husband for missionary service in 1945. They served, primarily in Tampico on the Gulf Coast of Mexico, until 1970. Upon return to the United States, she supported her husband's ministry in several churches in Sumter, SC, Lexington, VA in Winter Haven and Lake Wales, FL. They ultimately returned to Lancaster in 2002. She was known as a woman of faith, devoted to her family and her church. She loved to travel and to hear and read about places around the world. .

Mrs. Whitesides is survived by her children: Bob Whitesides (Becky) of Hopewell, VA; Dan Whitesides (Mary) and Jim Whitesides (Wendy) both of Charlotte, NC; Harriett Navarre (John) of Kansas City, MO; Daisy Rearick (Jim) of Kirksville, MO; and Becky Shipp (Randy) of Frankfort, KY - 17 grandchildren: Sandy(Kristin) Whitesides, Russell (Nicole) Whitesides, Tony Whitesides, Mary Whitesides, Daniel Whitesides, John Navarre, Carmen Navarre, Harriett Navarre, Jackie Navarre, Aimee Navarre, Ross Rearick (Natalie), Will Rearick (Tracy), Ben Rearick, Rachel Inyama (Uzo), Andrew Shipp, Kathryn Whitesides, and Molly Whitesides - 3 great grandchildren: Isaac and Samuel Whitesides, Zoe Rearick.

Mrs. Whitesides was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Freeze, and 3 brothers, RB Robinson, Cloud Robinson and Ralph Robinson.

The Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Mrs. Whitesides will be 3:00 pm, Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Shiloh ARP Church by Rev. Mark Miller and assisted by Rev. Jim Mitchell. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family is especially indebted to a remarkable team of caregivers who assisted Mrs. Whitesides in living out her last year in her own home: She loved each of these amazing women: Linda Plyler, Mary Smith, Rayne Varnadore, Ronda Abbot, Sandra Griffin, Bobbie Whitt, Renee Wallace, Elizabeth Wallace, Marsha Reeves, Carol Bailey, Tammy Coan, Debbie Cowart and Belinda Payne.

The Family of Mrs. Whitesides will receive friends from 2:00 - 3:00 pm in the church Family Life Center and the family suggests memorials be made to Shiloh ARP Church, 346 Shiloh Unity Road, Lancaster, SC 29720.