Ton Whiteside

Henry Burton Whiteside passed away, surrounded by his three children, on Friday, December 26, after being badly injured in an auto accident on Christmas Eve morning.

Ton was born in Burgaw, North Carolina, on July 14, 1952, to Beulah Gibbons Rochelle Whiteside, a homemaker, and Heustis Pennington Whiteside, an artist, professor, merchant, and WWII combat veteran.

He lived on Topsail Island for the first few years of life, where his deep appreciation for the coastal Carolinas began. Once school age, he moved with his family to Burgaw, eventually graduating from Burgaw High School in 1970. He spent his early years helping his mother's mother, Nanny, with chores around her church, learning to surf the waves of Topsail, and listening to the formative music of his time. During his junior year, Ton and his best friend traveled to Greensboro, where -- lying about their age -- they managed to see the legendary rock musician Jimi Hendrix play live.

Ton attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in philosophy and religion. After graduating from UNC, he matriculated to the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, and later the General Theological Seminary in New York City, becoming an ordained Episcopal priest in 1983. He went on to serve first in New Bern and then Wilmington, North Carolina, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, where he was active in supporting social movements for economic and racial justice. Ton was instrumental in establishing the Good Shepherd Center. Still in operation, the Good Shepherd Center not only provides emergency shelter and food, it also helps find permanent housing for about 150 people every year.

Feeling the pull of another mission, Ton enrolled at the Maryland University of Integrated Health (formerly The Traditional Acupuncture School) to study acupuncture. After completing his education there in 2001, he moved to Western Massachusetts, where he began his acupuncture practice and served as a minister at Plainfield Congregational Church in Plainfield, MA. During his time in Western Mass, he lived primarily in Shelburne Falls, MA. Always eager to connect and be of service to others, he became a beloved member of the community. He loved nothing more than good conversation over good food and drink, often at the Juice Box or Blue Rock Restaurant. Even better if it were with his children.

Ton also studied and practiced Shin Buddhism. Though very serious about Buddhist philosophy and practice-- such as sitting for long, silent meditation-- all of this was contained within his fundamental framework of Christianity. In 2017, Ton traveled to Japan, invited by an old college friend, and spent weeks visiting temples and embedding himself in the culture. In recent years, he began studying the Japanese language, making close friends with his teacher, even visiting her and her family in Japan earlier this year.

His friends and family will keenly miss his penetrating mind and caring heart, which were always straining toward justice, truth, and the mercy at the heart of his faith.

He is survived by his beloved children, Nathan Whiteside, Helen Whiteside, Zoe Whiteside, their families, and their mother, Susan Beam. This year, Ton was excited to welcome his first grandchild, Helen's son, Francis Hiatt Whiteside to the family. He is also survived by his brother, H.P. Whiteside Jr.; his sister, Rochelle Whiteside; their families; his godson, John Michael David Parenti; as well as his many dear friends in North Carolina, Western Massachusetts, and Japan.

Ton had deep roots in both his chosen home of Shelburne Falls and his native home of North Carolina, specifically Burgaw, Topsail Island, and Wilmington. Because of this, his memory will be honored in both places. The family will receive friends at 11:00 AM Saturday in the Methodist Church fellowship hall. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 PM Saturday January 3, 2026 at Burgaw United Methodist Church. Reverend Matthew Hayes will officiate and burial will follow in the Burgaw Cemetery. A memorial will take place in Western Mass some weeks later.

Flowers are welcome, in lieu of flowers those who wish to honor Ton are encouraged to share a written memory, perform an act of kindness, or simply hold him and his family in their thoughts.

For limited floral orders contact Eddie's Floral gallery Wilmington 910-791-0990 (Open Friday 1/2/2026)