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Obituaries
Rev. John Elbridge Tidwell
Date of Death or Service Feb 12, 2019
Rev. John Elbridge Tidwell
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HEBREWS 6:10 GOD IS NOT UNJUST; HE WILL NOT FORGET YOUR WORK AND THE LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN HIM AS YOU HAVE HELPED HIS PEOPLE AND CONTINUE TO HELP THEM.
 

     Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. from the New Hope Baptist Church. Bro. William Gray will officiate.  Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at Taylor Funeral Home between the hours of 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Wednesday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Place of rest will be next to his wife in the church cemetery.

     Rev. Tidwell, age 92, of Bon Aqua, TN died February 11, 2019, at NHC of Dickson, TN.  Those desiring, memorials are suggested to the Gideons or New Hope Baptist Church.

     He was born in Hickman County, Tennessee, son of the late Lewis Elbridge and Annie Lee Dedman Tidwell. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha (Mattie) Luther Tidwell in 2012. He proudly served his country during WW II in the United States Army. He was a member of the New Hope Baptist Church.

      Rev. John Tidwell retired after preaching for over 50 years in the Judson Association. He was the pastor of New Hope, Mt. Zion, Parkers Creek, Pleasant Ridge, Harmony, Walnut Grove, Missionary Ridge, and Liberty.  He was at Liberty Church nearly twenty-five years of that time. He and his wife, Martha, were very faithful to visit the sick in the hospitals and their own homes. Bad weather never stopped them. They were always there with words of encouragement.

     They often went to the funeral home to comfort the family when they lost a loved one.  Their presence helped reassure folks during their time of grief and despair.

     Unsaved people were always on their minds. Sometimes they made several trips to see the same person. For some folks, they went for many years to help them get saved. They never gave up on an individual.

     He performed many marriages at Liberty.  Before the wedding date, Martha always helped the bride and groom plan and rehearse the wedding before the big day arrived.  She would even make large cakes for wedding showers.  They were enjoyed by everyone.  Often, there was not even a crumb left for her to take home.  

     He baptized many folks in the waters of Little Blue Creek. It was very cold because spring water was the source of it. The temperature did not matter. I'm sure chills ran up his spine in early spring, late fall, and winter as he baptized people.

     The Tidwells helped organize the first vacation Bible school in 1965. The church has never missed having one since that time. It was and still is one of the highlights of the year. Christmas was a very special time of the year. The congregation always put on big Christmas play.  A huge tree was decorated, and gifts were placed under it for everyone in the church.

     During the holiday season, the church prepared and passed out many Christmas baskets. The group went to many houses in the community and sang songs. Then they would wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Brother John always closed the visit with prayer.

     Easter was also nice. It was started with an early breakfast. Martha always brought her country ham and biscuits. After preaching service, the children hunted Easter eggs until no more could be found.

     Bro. John wanted the church to give to the co-operative program. For a while, he gave his Love offering one Sunday a month to this great cause. Then the church decided to give them a donation once a month. For over 20 years, the church provided huge amounts of clothes to the homeless people in Nashville. This is done near Thanksgiving. He never refused to serve even though the collection was minimal in the early 50's. He was not there for the money. He wanted to see lost people saved.

     He and Sister Martha were truly God's faithful servants. They will always hold a special place in our lives at Liberty. 

     Survivors include his three children, John L Tidwell, Bobby N. Tidwell and wife Lucinda, and Gayla Fisher and her husband James all of Bon Aqua, TN.; his four grandchildren, Stephanie Murphree (Casey), Anthony Fisher (Jalana), John De Fisher (Lisa), and Jonathan Fisher (Christy); his three step-grandchildren, Jeff Kemp (Amanda), Tammy Benefield (Marty), and Wendy Strickland (Ty); his great-grandchildren, Aryn, Jalyn, Brianna, Luke, Jake, Bryson; his step-great-grandchildren, Andrew, Sam, Jack, Lucy Lee Millie Jo, Nadia, Nicole, and Noelle; his five sisters, Hazel Marie Buttrey of Fairview, TN, Jewell Daughtery of Bon Aqua, TN, Elizabeth Savely (Claude) of Murfreesboro, TN, Magaline Fowlkes (Kenneth) of Hermitage, TN, Sarah Brake (Charles) of Chapel Hill, TN; sister-in-law, Dolly Tidwell of Bon Aqua, TN; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

PARTS OF HIS OBIT WAS FURNISHED BY THE JUDSON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

 

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