Mary Eleanor Barlow Kidd was born on September 9, 1914, in Piedmont, Alabama, and died on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at the age of 93, at The Gables in Royston, Georgia. She was the daughter of the late Adelaide and John Barlow and was educated at the Columbia Institute in Tennessee and Montevallo College in Alabama.

She married Charles B. Kidd on December 19, 1938, at the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Gadsden, Alabama. With their growing family, they moved around during the World War II years while Charlie served in the United States Navy. Then in 1946 they came from Gadsden to Hartwell to make their home, where Mrs. Kidd lived until shortly after the passing of her husband of sixty-two years in 2000.

Mrs. Kidd was a lifelong Episcopalian, and after her family, she was most proud of her church. She was a driving force in the initial organization and founding of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Hartwell, where, among other things, she was a Sunday School teacher and member of the Altar Guild. No matter what was needed, Mrs. Kidd was always ready to serve her church, whether it was in the kitchen at coffee hour or at the church entrance welcoming newcomers and visitors and making them feel right at home. On many Sundays, her flower garden provided the lovely arrangements used on the altar.

In addition to her other activities, Mrs. Kidd also found time to be a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader. Then after a full career as a wife and mother, she joined the faculty at Hartwell Elementary School as a fourth-grade teacher.
She is survived by her children, John Carey Kidd and his wife, Joan; Mary Eleanor Kidd Jackson and her husband, Allen; and Charles William Kidd and his wife, Jean; eight grandchildren and their spouses; and ten great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m. at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church with The Rev. Jim Clarke and The Rev. Herschel Atkinson officiating.A reception celebrating Mrs. Kidd's life will be held after the services in the church parish hall.
The body is at the Strickland Funeral Home ~ Hartwell Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday prior to the service.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 579 Fairview Avenue, Hartwell, GA 30643, or to the charity of your choice.