Ellen B Tisdale

Tisdale, Ellen Brawner, devoted wife and mother, 95, passed away peacefully at her home on May 15, 2012. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, May 20, at 2:00 pm at Leak Memory Chapel, with Rev. Roy Gamblin and Rev. Travis Barnes. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 19 from 4:00-6:00 pm and for the hour before the service at Leak Memory.

Mrs. Tisdale was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years, Joe Thomas Tisdale, Sr.; her brother Robert Brawner; sisters Mary Clyde Brawner Patrick and Barbara Brawner Higgins; granddaughter Eve Tisdale; and nephew Gene Tisdale.

She will be cherished in memory by son Joe Thomas (Jody) Tisdale and his wife Emily of Ramer, Alabama; daughter Sharon Harris and her husband Jimmy of Rydal, Georgia; brother Jack Brawner and his wife Virginia of Andalusia, Alabama; sister-in-law Merilee Brawner of Andalusia; sister-in-law Norma Clotfelter of Birmingham; granddaughter Dagny Smith of Cartersville, Georgia; grandson Jasen Brown of Wetumpka; great-grandchildren Kyle Barnette, Cody Barnette and his wife Jaclyn, and Kelsey Fritz; seventeen nieces and nephews; and many, many friends.

She was born in Andalusia, Alabama in 1916 and moved to Montgomery as a young adult. Active in church from childhood, she was a member of Capital Heights United Methodist Church, and before that, Dexter Avenue United Methodist. For many years she kept the nursery during church, and her charges, now grown, still remember her fondly.

She was known at church as “the card lady.” She never missed sending cards to the sick, the lonely, the bereaved, and to those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. She touched many lives with this ministry.

She moved to Georgia in 2009, where she joined Trinity United Methodist Church in Cartersville.

She was very creative and artistic. She was gifted in sewing, cross-stitching, embroidering, crocheting, quilling, and china painting. She made exquisite quilts, some of which won prizes at the State Fair. She was an exceptional cook, often preparing fresh vegetables from her backyard garden.

She was a civilian employee for 31 years at Maxwell Air Force Base, where she worked as a librarian for the Air University. Upon retirement in 1981, she was given the Sustained Superior Performance Award by the Air Force. Compliments paid in the recommendation for the award included: “indispensable… the epitome of what an employee should be… a team leader… a genuine concern for people… in the top 1% of the employees on Maxwell Air Force Base.”

After retirement, she enjoyed working part-time at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, an institution she loved.

Pallbearers will be Bryan Bailey, John Caraway, Edgar Duke, Bryan Hamrick, Al Herring, and David Mastin. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Boatner, Monty Bogard, Rickey Mosely, Charlie Payne, and Gene Thompson.

Pianist for the service will be Ann Gamblin and soloist will be Iris McGehee.

The family would like to express gratitude to Mrs. Tisdale’s friends at Capitol Heights United Methodist Church and to her loving and dedicated care-givers Rhonda Skramstad, Pegi Lullie, and Judy Morelock.