Lillian Richards Tidwell, age 96, of Lavonia, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2023 at St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital.

Born July 1, 1926, in Atlanta, GA, she was the daughter of the late Henry Odell and Verde Mae Queen Richards. She retired as an employment counselor for the Georgia Department of Labor. Mrs. Tidwell was a member of the 5 ^th Avenue Baptist Church and the Atlanta Business Women's Association. She was the widow of Robert Judson Tidwell, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, and sister of the late Mary Daprano, Gertrude Weathers, Nancy Hogan, and Rose Traber.

Left to celebrate her memory are her daughter: Janis Tidwell Callaway (Charles) and Jane Tidwell Sheldon; brother: Bob Richards; grandchildren: Robert J. Norton (Susan), Julie Norton Brown, Brad Tenney, and Melissa Tenney Phillips (Richard); great-grandchildren: Anthony Norton and Casey Norton; great-great-grandchildren: Jaxson Norton and Lexie Bennett; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2023 at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Charles Callaway, Anthony Norton, Jeff Norton, and Brad Tenney. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the North East Georgia Animal Shelter, 870 Bear Creek Road, Lavonia, GA 30553.

Strickland Funeral Home of Lavonia is in charge of the arrangements. To sign the online guest register please visit stricklandfh.com.