TIFTON — Marie D. Tidwell, 59, of Tifton died Friday, March 26, 2010 at Tift Regional Medical Center after a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Liberty Baptist Church, with the Rev. Tony Dixon, the Rev. Gary Cadwell and the Rev. Steve Tucker officiating. Burial will follow at Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors.

Ricky Dean, Mark Dean, Ricky Fletcher, Michael Pittman, Eddie Bennett and Roho Bennett will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Tifton-Tift County Fire Department.

Mrs. Tidwell was born July 24, 1950 in Screven to J. B. Dixon and Susie Elfreda Chancey Dixon, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Ed Dixon; two sisters, Avie Cauthen and Kathy Joslin; and two infant children.

Mrs. Tidwell had lived in Tifton most of her life and was a member of Brookfield Baptist Church, and was formerly a member of Liberty Baptist Church. She was known for always being a silent strength for everybody that knew her. She was MeMa, MeMe and Aunt Rea to her grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She loved to write poems and had several songs recorded by Dynasty Records in Nashville, Tenn. Her favorite and God-given gift was cooking for family and friends. She loved her church family and was always letting Christ show through her.

Mrs. Tidwell is survived by her husband, Larry Tidwell; her son and daughter-in-law, Bobby “Roho” and Melissa Norton Bennett of Tifton; one brother, Tony R. and Frances Dixon of Abbeville; one sister and brother-in-law, Jeanette and Warren Haynes of Waycross; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lutrelle and Ray Tidwell Greene of Tifton; two grandchildren, Julie Bennett, Eddie Bennett and wife, Jaclyn Bennett; one great-grandchild, Lily Grace Bennett; and several nieces and nephews.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Tift County Unit, P. O. Box 7514, Tifton, Ga. 31793. You may sign the guest registry at www.albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com. Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.