James Blake Tidwell obituary
Mr. James Blake Tidwell, Jr, age 80, of Murfreesboro, TN passed away in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Adams Place. Blake was born May 25, 1941 in Cincinnati, OH to the late Mr & Mrs James Blake Tidwell, Sr. He was a member of St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Murfreesboro and Resurrection Church in Destin, FL.
Blake is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Mary Lee McKenzie Tidwell; children, Lisa Carol Halliburton and her husband Ken, James Gregory Tidwell and his wife Dee Dee; five grandchildren, McKenzie Reid Halliburton, Taylor Carmine Halliburton, James Trevor Tidwell, Maggie Kathleen Tidwell, and Reese Elizabeth Tidwell all of Murfreesboro; twin sister, Trudy Holder of Nashville, TN; and siblings, Harry Tidwell and his wife Ann of Huntsville, AL, Caroline Miller and her husband Bill of Nashville, John Tidwell and his wife Diane of Orlando, FL and Kathryn Weinacker and her husband Ted of Saarland, AL.
Blake and Lee owned Bell Jewelers and sold their family business to their children Lisa Tidwell Halliburton and James Gregory Tidwell in 2007.
Blake’s first love was his family. He and Lee loved golfing together, making memories with his grandchildren, traveling and meeting people. He had a passion of giving back to the community, helping people repair & build things. He was past president of Tennessee Jewelers Association, Murfreesboro Sportsman Club & Murfreesboro Morning Rotary Club, recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, and co-founder of Tennessee School for the Blind Golf Tournament. He helped start the Main Street Revitalization Program, past director of First Tennessee Bank, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce Business Man of the Year Award & Leadership Rutherford Graduate. Member of Stones River Country Club & Burnt Pine Golf Club (he and son Greg were Overall Grand Champions of 2016 Men’s Member Guest).
For those who wish, memorials may be made to Alive Hospice Murfreesboro, Tennessee School for the Blind, Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Rutherford County, or the charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and medical staff of St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital and Adams Place for their care of Blake.
Visitation with the family will be Friday, October 8, 2021 from 3:00pm until 7:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 11:00am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
An online guestbook is available for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com. Woodfin Memorial Chapel (615) 893-5151.
