Mona Lisa Whiteside, age 73 of Paducah passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Ascension St. Thomas Hospital West in Nashville, TN.
Mona Lisa Gardner Whiteside, daughter of the late Willie Frank Gardner and Edith Wilson, was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on July 29, 1950. She was a 1968 graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School and attended Kentucky State University.
Lisa began a career as a teller at Peoples Bank, now known as Regions Bank, and remained a faithful employee for fifty years until her retirement. Her commitment to providing quality service resulted in her promotion to an assistant loan officer. She was so dedicated to her clients and co-workers that before her first heart surgery, she convinced the doctor at Vanderbilt to allow her to come home for the weekend prior to the surgery so that she could finish processing a loan. She was well-respected and loved by both her clients and her co-workers.
Her gift of handling financial matters with excellence went beyond her bank experience. She served as treasurer of the Friends Club and chairman of the Finance Committee at Washington Street Baptist Church where she was a faithful member. During her years of service, she directed Vacation Bible School, was a member of the Gospel Ensemble, taught Sunday School, member of the Official Board, participated in bible study and volunteered for “Back to School Blowout” and other events until her health began to take its toll.
Lisa had an endearing love for people, especially her family. She devoted her life to helping and gave her all to Tony and her grandchildren. Whenever she spoke of Jerrel, Javon, Jersee and Kamiya, a big smile would come on her face. Even when she wasn’t feeling her best, she enjoyed just watching them play. She loved good food and often posted recipes on Facebook, but she was known for her strawberry cake and chess squares. It was common knowledge that both she and Tony were adept at sniffing out the best soul food restaurants, and whenever they were coming back to Paducah from Nashville, they would always find the right spots.
Another one of Lisa’s favorite things to do was traveling. She made plans to take her grandchildren to Disney World, but failing health resulted in a necessary adjustment to those plans.
Lisa was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ronald Whiteside; her uncle, Malcolm “Brother” Wilson; her half-brother, Reuben Gardner; and her half-sister, Tina Gardner.
Lisa leaves behind to cherish memories of her warm heart, smile, and loving personality, one son, Antonio (Helen Hartshaw) Whiteside; two grandchildren, Terrel “Buddy” Fitzgerald and Kamiya Whiteside; two great-grandchildren, Javon Fitzgerald and Jersee Fitzgerald; two half-brothers, Gerald Gardner and William Gardner; two half-sisters, Wilma Babbs and Margarite Gardner; three aunts, Connie (Lysanius) Broyles, Doris Wilson, and Gail (Sylvester) Ridgeway; along with a host of loving cousins, extended family and friends.
Funeral services have been scheduled for Friday, December 22, 2023, 12 noon at Washington Street Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Raynarldo Henderson and Reverend Marcus Turnley officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour.
