Mr. Ernest “Richard” Tidwell, 83, of Cartersville, died Monday, July 28, 2014, following injuries sustained from an accident while working on his farm.
A native of Bartow County, Richard was born May 11, 1931, the son of the late Herschel Melvin Tidwell and Ethel Bell Tidwell. In addition to his parents, he is preceded by two sisters, Edna Matthews and Catherine Jones; and two brothers, Buddy and Jackie Tidwell.
Richard was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church but attended Zion Hill Baptist Church. He was a common man, hardworking and self-made, one who loved people and his family. He was a self-employed residential contractor for most of his life and enjoyed farming and gardening in his spare time. Richard served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. Sgt. 1st Class Tidwell was in the Battle at Pork Chop Hill while serving in Korea. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother who will be sorely missed.
Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou Tidwell of Carterville; his daughters, Elaine Tidwell Lockwood, (Marc), of Cartersville and Donna Tidwell Martin, (Jimmy) of Kingston; one brother and sister-in-law, C.L. and Doris Tidwell of Cartersville; his grandchildren, Brandon (Kim) Lockwood, Blake Lockwood, Phillip (Nicole) Martin all of Cartersville, and Melissa (Junior) Dobson of Rome; his great-grandchildren, Carson Lockwood and Jared Martin both of Cartersville; and a special granddaughter-in-law, Leigh Davis Lockwood of Cartersville.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 31, 2014 at Zion Hill Baptist Church with The Reverend David Baker, The Reverend Marlin Haney and The Reverend Crawford Greeson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Mr. Tidwell will be carried to the church on Thursday to lie-in-state for one hour prior to the service. The family will receive friends from 4 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Flowers will be accepted, but donations can be made to Zion Hill Cemetery Fund, 1105 Mission Rd. SW, Cartersville in Richard’s memory.
Serving as pallbearers will be Brandon Lockwood, Blake Lockwood, Phillip Martin, Melissa Dobson, Bobby Matthews, Randy Knight and Michael Tidwell.
Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Mr. Richard Tidwell; please visit www.parnickjenningsfuneral.com to share memories or to leave a condolence message.

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