Sidney Darnell Whitehead

Search me, O God, and know my Heart, try me, and know my thoughts! –Psalms 139:23

Sidney Darnell Whitehead was born on November 30, 1950, in Portsmouth, VA., to the late Richard and Bessie E. Whitehead. He was one of eight children born to their union. He attended the Portsmouth Public school system. With time spent in the U. S. Air Force as a Sargent, he was honorable discharged. He attended Norfolk State University night courses and worked in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard as a shipwright. Sidney was a master carpenter and worked many years with his brother Andre Whitehead in the construction field.

Sidney was very athletic and played football, basketball and he excelled at tennis, even winning a 4-year college scholarship.

Sidney enjoyed interacting with his family and was very keen on what his nieces and nephews were up to in life, and he spoke about them with pride. He like to give advice and encouragement followed by his big booming laughs. He talked to you with a lot of wisdom and his attitude doing his illness was uplifting. He trusted that God would see him through. He never gave up trying to get better. He was a faithful member of Full Gospel Kingdom Church in Newport News, VA under the leadership of Bishop Felton Hawkins.

Sidney D. Whitehead, 72, departed this life to live with Jesus in the early morning hours of October 15, 2023, with his wife Viola by his side. He was predeceased in death by his parents, Richard and Bessie Whitehead and his beloved brother Timothy (Melvina) Whitehead. 

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Viola A. Whitehead, three children; Dwayne Alston. Janae (Corrie) Blount-Stockton, and Malik Mills; three grandchildren; Tyasia L. Cason, Christopher Pittman and Shyne Alston. two sisters Ella (Nathan) Brooks, Velma (Bert) Bolden. Four brothers; Richard (Eunice) Whitehead, Kamau Chenlo (Marie) Whitehead, Andre (Katrina) Whitehead, and James (Rita) Whitehead. And a host of nieces and nephews, in-laws and friends.

Sidney was loved and will be so missed words cannot express.

A light went out on Earth for me

The day we said good bye

And on that day a star was born,

The brightest in the sky

Reaching through the darkness

With its rays of purest white

Lighting up the Heavens

As it once lit up my life

With beams of love to heal

The broken heart you left behind

Where always in my memory

Your lovely star will shine