William Curtis Tedder and Nelda Ruth Hendry Tedder

A fatal car crash on the afternoon of June 25, 2011 ended the lives of William Curtis Tedder, 87 and his wife, Nelda Ruth Hendry Tedder, 83; lives that began together 66 years ago. May they rest in the peace of their beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

William Curtis Tedder was born in Eridu, Florida, on June 3, 1924 and grew up on a farm in the Eridu community. His parents were Samuel William Tedder and Mary Elma Hicks Tedder. Nelda Ruth Hendry Tedder was born in Shady Grove, Florida, on November 12, 1927; she also grew up on a farm near Shady Grove. Her parents were Alderman Carlton Hendry and Arie Bailey McLeod Hendry.

When Curtis met Nelda it was love at first sight. They married on June 17, 1945 and shared an everlasting love they held sacred and bound in the Lord Jesus Christ. They supported each other selflessly through thick and thin, through sickness and health, through good times and bad, dedicated to a commitment made to each other and to God. Theirs was the paragon of what marriage and commitment can and should be. The sacredness of the union of two people was always alive and brightly shining in the marriage of Curtis and Nelda Tedder. They were a foundation others could count on and hold onto in times of their own personal crises, whatever those were.

Curtis and Nelda lived in Tallahassee all of their married life. Curtis was a Chartered Life Underwriter and worked in the insurance and financial planning business until he retired. During his years in the insurance industry, he served for a time as President of the Estate Planning Council in Tallahassee. His sense of integrity and fairness earned him the highest degree of respect from his clients and his peers. Curtis was the longest serving Deacon at First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, and also served as Chairman of the Deacons. He was a member of the Tallahassee Rotary Club and served for a time as Chaplain. He also served on the State Board of Missions of the Florida Baptist State Convention, 1971-1974.

Nelda was an interpreter for the hearing impaired. She served the deaf people of Tallahassee and throughout Florida for almost 50 years and was the bedrock of the Deaf Ministry of First Baptist Church, Tallahassee. Daughter, Rebecca, learned sign language from Nelda at an early age and has continued Nelda's legacy through her interpreting service for the hearing impaired community. Son, Sam, was in business with his father for more than 25 years and is also a well-known musician and composer. Son, Allan Curtis Tedder, of Longwood, Florida, was a loving father to Lauren Allison Swift and Brandon Curtis Tedder and was in the automotive business until his untimely death in 1985.

Curtis and Nelda were two down to earth people who chose a road filled with faith and commitment and never veered from it or stepped off of it, who heralded others onto the road and the way with them, who shared all they had with the promise that what they shared was the Lord's great bounty for which they were mightily grateful. That is the legacy of Curtis and Nelda Tedder -- one that reaches out to touch us all in their passing. And, in our living, may we know their conviction before we pass on, may we leave just a piece of what they have left, may we praise God as honestly through our living everyday as they did.

Survivors include Curtis's two brothers, Joseph Bartow Tedder (Betty), Lakeland, FL and Samuel Russell Tedder (Carolyn), Sherwood, AR and Nelda's sisters, Virginia Edith McLeod Gates, Tallahassee, FL and Lydia Ann Hendry Andrews, Perry, FL, as well as Curtis and Nelda's children, Rebecca Ruth Tedder Ray and Samuel Carlton Tedder (Sandy), two grandchildren, Lauren Allison Tedder Swift (Jon) and Brandon Curtis Tedder (Jennifer), a great granddaughter, Ruth Aisling Swift and a great grandson on the way. They are also survived by many beloved extended family members and dear friends. They were predeceased by their son, Allan Curtis Tedder (Sherry).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, Robert M. Hendry Memorial Methodist Church of Shady Grove Florida, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Shady Grove Florida, or the Lighthouse Children's Home, Tallahassee.

A viewing will be held at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee, (108 West College Avenue) on Friday, July 1, at 10:00am, with a memorial service immediately following at First Baptist Church at 11:00am. The interment service will at the Hendry Memorial Cemetery (1/2 mile North of Shady Grove, FL on Hwy 221), at 2:00pm on Friday. After the interment service, the family will receive friends and family for refreshments at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (County Road C-14, 7 miles West of Shady Grove.) Arrangements are under the care and direction of Culley's Funeral Home (850-877-8191).