Mary Lou Tidwell

Mrs. Mary Lou Padgett Tidwell, 85, of Cartersville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at her residence following a lengthy illness.
A native of Bartow County, born May 29, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Ernest Alfred Padgett and Alice Striplin Padgett.

She was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church and had a passion for gospel music. She enjoyed quilting, sewing, canning and cooking. Mary Lou loved her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Richard Tidwell; a sister, Mittie Stephens; and brothers, Lewis and George Padgett.

Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine Tidwell Lockwood and husband, Marc of Cartersville and Donna Tidwell Martin and husband, Jimmy of Kingston; grandchildren, Brandon Lockwood (Kim), Blake Lockwood (Lisa) and Phillip Martin( Nicole) all of Cartersville and Melissa Dobson( Junior) of Rome; her great-grandchildren, Carson, Jared and Silas; and special granddaughter, Leigh Lockwood of Cartersville; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, C.L. and Doris Tidwell of Cartersville along with several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Zion Hill Baptist Church with The Reverend Jonathan Padgett, The Reverend Marlon Haney and The Reverend David Baker officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Mary Lou will be taken to the church on Thursday to lie-in-state for one hour prior to the service. The family will receive friends from 5 – 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Flowers will be accepted, but for those who desire, donations can be made to Zion Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o 278 Rd. #3 South SW, Cartersville, Georgia, 30120.

Serving as pallbearers will be Brandon and Blake Lockwood, Melissa Dobson, C.L. Tidwell, Griffin Padgett and Michael Tidwell.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the exceptional care that their mother received from the compassionate staff of Amedisys Hospice which includes Mitzi Oates, Colleen Lavender, Cheryl Towler and Tiffany Powell. The family is also very grateful to their caregivers, Shirlee McMichael, Betty Boston and Gloria Richardson.

Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Mary Lou Tidwell; please visit www.parnickjenningsfuneral.com to share tributes or to leave a condolence message.