Elissa Eidam Tidwell

Elissa Eidam Tidwell, 89, of Columbus, GA passed away February 7, 2025 at The Gardens at Calvary.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 12, 2025 in the chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Dr. Don Wilhite officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. To honor Mrs. Tidwell’s wishes, there will be no viewing at the visitation.A private interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery.

Elissa was born November 4, 1935 in Columbus, GA daughter of the late Ben H. Eidam, Sr. and Wilma Andrews Eidam. She lived in Columbus her entire life and grew up in the Wynnton neighborhood. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1954, where she was a member of the marching band, playing clarinet.  In addition, she took piano lessons for many years and played the piano beautifully.  She received a piano scholarship to Shorter College. However, a wedding proposal was accepted instead and on July 25, 1954, she married Walter at Wynnton Methodist Church. They raised a family of four children and they were married until his death in March of 2014, just shy of their 60th wedding anniversary.

In  February, 2016, she reluctantly moved to the Gardens of Calvary. However, it did not take long for her to fit right in and enjoy all the Gardens had to offer. She made it a point to write ‘Welcome to the Gardens” cards to new residents, play Bingo and attend sing a-long. But most of all everyone enjoyed when she was able to play the piano for the residents and staff, putting on impromptu concerts of gospel hymns.

Her hobbies included baking, which she came by honestly, as she grew up in a family of bakers (Eidam Brothers Bakery) and she spent much time working in the bakery in her teenage years.  She also loved to read and always had a supply of books ready and waiting, right up to her last illness. She loved the Atlanta Braves, the Falcons, but most of all her Georgia Bulldogs.

Other than her parents, Elissa was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Vinson Tidwell, her brother, Ben H. Eidam, Jr., and her youngest son, Steven Andrew Tidwell.

Survivors include her children, Patricia Tidwell Mitchell (Ron) of Midland, GA, Walter Michael Tidwell (Kimberly) of Columbus, GA, James Mark Tidwell (Pattie) of Columbus, GA; daughter-in-law, Teresa Tidwell of Columbus, GA; grandchildren, Jennifer Osbon (Clint) of Columbus, GA, Chris Dawson (Haleigh) of Phenix City, AL, Corey Tidwell of Valley, AL, Casey Smith (Derrick) of Buehl, AL, James Mark Tidwell, Jr of Columbus, GA, Joey Tidwell of Columbus, GA, Steven Tidwell of Columbus, GA; and 16 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Gardens at Calvary, 7595 Moon Rd. Columbus, GA 31909 or Empyrean Hospice, 5771 Veterans Pkwy Suite B, Columbus, GA 31904

The family would like to extend a very special thank you to her kind and loving staff of caregivers at the Gardens of Calvary who have been extended family to her.  They loved her and she loved them right back. Also another special thank you to Empyrean Hospital nurses and staff whose care she has been under the last few months.