Connie Jo Tedford

Connie Jo Tedford - Submitted photo
Connie Jo Tedford - Submitted photo

Connie Jo Tedford was born in Hot Springs, Ark., on June 22, 1954, to Melvin "Babe" Minton and Sue Rowland Wilson. She was called home on March 27, 2023. She attended Hot Springs School District until her sophomore year, when she transferred to Cutter Morning Star and graduated with the class of 1972. She married her high school sweetheart, Vernon Tedford, "Jr.," on June 30, 1973. She was looking forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this summer with family. She went to beauty school and was a beautician for a while, where she worked alongside her lifelong friend, Corita, and later helped in her mom's beauty shop.

She really never wanted anything more than to have a family and be a mom. She enjoyed staying home with Eric and later welcomed Betsy. She loved attending school functions and being in the stands for games and performances when her children and grandchildren were involved. She was welcoming and hospitable to anyone who entered her home and always offered food or drinks. She was a member of Oaklawn Church of God. She worked 26 years for the City of Hot Springs, where her coworkers became sweet friends. She retired from the Finance Department in 2016. She was excited to have extra time to spend with her mother and her grandchildren. Her grandchildren were the loves of her life. She devoted her life to loving and sacrificially serving her family. She was the most loving Mom and Nanny ever! She enjoyed front porch sitting, birds, flowers, puzzles, crossword puzzles, tea parties, a good book or movie, coffee and time spent with the Lord early in the mornings. She especially loved bringing treats and gifts to her grandbabies.

In October 2018, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 uterine cancer. She faced each challenge with grace, hope, love and a strength that came from her trust in the Lord. She has been an inspiration to all who love her. Through her suffering, she never failed to think of others and ways to show her love through a listening ear, sweet smile, warm embrace or thoughtful gifts. She leaves a legacy of love and faith in the Lord. She was kind, gentle, humble, and she showed endless mercy, compassion and love to others.

She is survived by her husband, Jr.; a son, Eric (Milana) Tedford; a daughter, Betsy (Robbie) Cox; Nanny's boys, Andrew Cox and Cashen Tedford and Nanny's girls, Solee Marie and Emerson Tedford; her mother, Sue; her brother, Glen (Nancy) Minton; sisters-in-law, Verna (Haskel) Bates, and Zelda Walters; nephews, Greg (Tammy) Bates, Kevin Walters, Justin (Sally) Minton, Jason (Kathleen) Minton; nieces, Kelli (Brian) Mount, Tami (Davey) Speers, Tanya (Mike) Tedder, Dana (Gary) Bates; several great-nieces and nephews, cousins, special neighbors, church members and friends.

The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Muldoon, Tiffany McConathy and all of the nurses and staff members of Genesis Cancer Center for the excellent care and compassion over the past four years of her illness. She often called them her "angels." Thank you to all who have prayed for her, encouraged her, sent cards, food, gifts and walked alongside her during her journey. She asked us to thank everyone for her.

The pallbearers will be her nephews.

Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m. today. The celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 30, at the Caruth-Hale Funeral Home chapel with Bill DeYoung, Brady Mount and Dylan Tedder officiating. Burial will follow at Crestview Cemetery.

Online condolences at http://www.caruth-hale.com.

Upcoming Events