Linda White Tidmore, 78, passed away Saturday, October 31st in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Born August 29, 1948, to J.D. White and Zella Moore, Linda grew up in and around Moundville, with her 3 sisters, Bonnie, Sherry, and Jo. She deeply loved her parents, her sisters, and her hometown.

Linda attended Hale County High School where she excelled in academics and participated in various activities including 4H club, student council, and cheerleading, graduating as valedictorian of her class. After graduation she attended the University of Alabama where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English. In 1971 she married her long-time sweetheart Jimmy Tidmore.

Immensely talented, adventurous and well-rounded, she started her career as a teacher (mostly high school English) but also worked alongside Jim driving trucks, running a small scuba diving business, and supporting him on the farm they shared. She was a much-loved and favorite teacher to many students, passionate about Shakespeare and Greek mythology, and carried stories and memories of cherished students in her heart throughout her whole life. She had a successful career in education and later in healthcare administration, all while raising three daughters: Joely, Emily Ragan, Jesse, and her granddaughter Justice.

Linda was exceedingly creative. She loved writing, gardening, cross-stitch, cooking, curating her home, decorating for the seasons, and hosting for the holidays. She painted murals, whipped up last-minute costumes for forgetful children, helped with homework, proofread papers for her daughters (and work reports for Jim!) all while making a home-cooked meal almost every night.

Linda and Jimmy relocated several times throughout their marriage (Galveston, Texas City, Baltimore) in support of Jim’s career with ST Services - eventually settling in Plano, Texas. Jim and Linda discovered a love for boating while living in Maryland and shared many wonderful memories in retirement enjoying their boat on Lake Texoma, which Jim proudly named the “Linda Gay” after her.

In the early days Jim and Linda enjoyed hosting camp house get-togethers, holiday parties, farm suppers and picnics and later hosting family dinners, ‘big breakfasts’ on Sundays, extravagant holiday meals, gourmet dinners on the boat, and dock fish frys.

Linda is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, James Lee Tidmore, III, parents J.D. White and Zella White (Moore), and her eldest daughter Joely Estella Tidmore-Wintrone. She is survived by her daughters Emily Ragan (Peter Dimberio) and Jesse (Justin Gandy), son-in-law Drew Wintrone, grandchildren Justice (Chris Burr-Dean), Jaelyn, Alex, Austin, Taj, and Joshua, great-grandchildren Jethro and Lucca Rose, sisters Bonnie McKinley, Sherry Wedgeworth, and Jo Mitchell (Ronnie), and many other beloved family, friends, nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at Indian Mounds Baptist Church in Moundville on Saturday, November 7th at 11am. All are welcome to attend.