Barbara Sinex Whitehead

April 8, 1929 – January 1, 2016

Barbara Sinex Whitehead of Raleigh passed away January 1 following a prolonged illness. Mom was born April 8, 1929, in Bloomington, Indiana. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Jack Whitehead, beloved daughter Debra Suzanne Burge, parents Cimie and Clarence Sinex; brothers Clarence, Robert, and Walter Frank “Bud” Sinex, and sisters Elizabeth “Betty” Carver and Marilyn Keller. Bob and Barb were married in 1950 and raised four children in Livonia, Michigan, until moving the family to Raleigh in 1978. Mom collected a million stories over a long, sometimes difficult life. A child of the Depression, she was raised by relatives after her mother died, and that adversity nurtured her love for children, a keen sense of humor, and an active imagination. Mom loved nothing more than sharing stories and meals with her kids, their many friends, and her grandchildren. Our kitchen table always had an extra place setting, and her children's friends were always welcome at breakfast, lunch or dinner, treated like one of her own. She knew all their stories, too.

Mom was active in Scouting through most of the '70s and is believed to be the first woman Cubmaster in Michigan. Cleaning up after dozens of kids, their friends, and many pets, she often passed the time swapping stories with fellow CBers in the Detroit area, known by her handle "Tiger Lily."

After moving to Raleigh, she became an anonymous mini-celebrity to thousands of WPTF radio listeners across the region. With a family recipe for every dish and a removal tip for every stain, “B.W. of Raleigh” was a daily call-in contributor to Maury O’Dell’s Ask Your Neighbor show during most of the '80s. In the evenings, she loved playing Michigan Rummy with a tableful of willing challengers, but the camaraderie was much more important than the game itself. Later in life, she passed her time reading romance and crime novels, clipping Dear Abby articles for family members, and her daily dose of Dr. Phil. She was of course much more to us than a collection of quirky stories.

Barbara is survived by her brother, Dr. Joseph Sinex of Ormond Beach, Florida; her three sons Robert J. Whitehead of Cary, John A. Whitehead of Raleigh, and Michael L. Whitehead of Holly Springs; her son-in-law Ron Burge of Raleigh; and her grandchildren Steven H. Burge, Kelly N. Burge, Dylan J. Whitehead, Emma V. Whitehead, and Robert Beck Whitehead. Family and friends will be attending graveside services on Saturday, January 9 at 11 a.m. at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens in Zebulon. In honor of Mom's love for reading the daily obits, we ask that in lieu of flowers or donations, you clip this obituary, stick it on your refrigerator for a few days, and drink a toast of a White Russian or cheap glass of wine to Good Ol’ Barb. She was deeply loved by many. Mom, we will always have the most loving memories of what you were to us. For you, Mom, cheers!

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