Lottie French Sides

08/12/1925 - 08/05/2026

Lottie French Sides, age 100, died peacefully at her home in Auburn, Alabama, on Wednesday morning, August 5, 2026.

Lottie was born on August 12, 1925, in Tallassee, Alabama, to Clarence Talmadge French and Pearl Lee Griffith French. She was the fifth of eight children—Dalton, Nancy, Herbert, Morris, Ollie, John Paten “JP,” and Peggy—all of whom preceded her in death. She was born prematurely at an estimated 22 weeks during the Great Depression. Her chances of survival were so small that the doctor told her parents she wouldn’t make it and did not print a birth certificate. Lottie credited her survival to the grace of the Lord, providing an unusually hot summer. She was raised on a farm, where hard work and shared knowledge provided what was needed to endure the Depression years. Despite those hardships, Lottie became the first person in her family to graduate high school.

On October 10, 1942, during World War II, Lottie met her sweetheart, Dewey Howell Sides. The story became one she told hundreds of times for decades: her best friend Joyce was dating Dewey but wanted to date his friend Wilson, convincing Lottie to go on a double date. Both couples became inseparable for life. Soon after meeting, Dewey was sent to military training and later deployed to Europe, serving in the 949th Field Artillery Battalion and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. After her junior year of high school, Lottie worked as a “Rosie the Riveter” at the Childersburg Powder Plant—coincidentally producing the same gunpowder Dewey would use overseas. They wrote to one another every day until Dewey’s return in December 1945. When Dewey’s bus arrived at her home, Lottie ran so fast to greet him that her dad said she missed the porch steps. They were married in February 9, 1946.

Lottie is preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Sides, and two of her four children, Connie Sides Pate and Stanley Sides (Lynn). She is survived by her children, Kim Sides (Ellen) and Marsha Peters (William); 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren, and a great-great grandchild on the way. The family is deeply grateful for Ms. Dorris Phillips, her caregiver, and to Genitiva Hospice, especially Jay Stowe, Rebecca Morris, and Katie Martin Pullen.

As a child, Lottie would pretend to take her paper dolls to church; she pretended they were her family. At age 12, during a revival, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and joined Bethlehem East Baptist Church. In 1960, Lottie and her family joined Lakeview Baptist Church. Her love for Christ shaped the way she loved others, raised her family, and lived her life. No one could be around Lottie without being loved and reminded of the gospel. She served others until her passing. For decades, Lottie talked about heaven. It has been her lifelong prayer that her family would know the Lord, so they might one day join her in eternity.

Visitation is Friday, August 7, 2026 at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the benevolence fund or food pantry at Lakeview Baptist Church.

Frederick-Dean is assisting the family with arrangements.