Jeanette Tidwell Underhill

Formerly of Bon Aqua and Lyes, TN, Jeanette Underhill passed away Thursday, October 10, 2024, at The Lodge at Natchez Trace. 

She was born on October 17, 1945, in Bon Aqua, TN, the eleventh and last of the children of Miller and Rosa Tidwell. 

Jeanette is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Underhill, parents Miller and Rosa Tidwell; brothers Lynol Tidwell, Paul Tidwell, Horace Tidwell; sisters Lois Harris, Gerlene Maston, Lora Pendegrass, Betty Mangrum, Rita Cannon, and Nita Sanders. 

She is survived by her daughter Angie Underhill Adams, granddaughter Maggie Adams, sister Dolly Tidwell, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Jeanette absolutely loved school and was at the top of her graduating class from Hickman County High School in 1963. She was also a key member of the women’s basketball team, who made it to the semifinals of the state championship two of her four years on the team. 

She married at age 17 and started working as a teller at First American Bank in Nashville instead of going to college. She rode the Greyhound bus from Bon Aqua to Nashville and thoroughly enjoyed learning the ropes of banking. She loved her customers, especially one customer for whom she would cash his checks even knowing he didn’t have money in his account to cover the checks. So it’s only fitting that her death come so quickly after Kris Kristofferson passed away. Clearly her instincts were right on him being able to get royalties to cover the checks she cashed for him. To hear her tell it, she somewhat grudgingly became a mom at age 23, quit work at the bank and became a homemaker. Just a few years later, she started working in a temporary capacity at East Elementary School, where she would continue to work on and off for many years. In the mid-90s a family friend encouraged her to join the administrative team at Farmers Home Administration in Franklin, which she thoroughly enjoyed despite the long commute. Jeanette was no stranger to hard work, nor to helping anyone who needed it. She spent the majority of her life helping family members in their gardens as well as canning and freezing the fruits and vegetables they grew. 

Country music radio was always on in her kitchen, and if she wasn’t busy with housework, you could usually find her reading. One of her favorite activities was the annual Sisters Trips that she, the other Tidwell girls, and their daughters would take to state parks around Tennessee. She was a lifelong member of New Hope Baptist Church and loved being a part of that community. The last four years of her life were spent at The Lodge at Natchez Trace, where she loved her caregivers and staff, and they loved her back. 

Visitation will be on what would have been her 79th birthday, Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 9:00am ~ 10:00am with a Celebration of Life at 10:00am and the burial to immediately follow. All services held at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home 9090 Highway 100 Nashville, TN 37221. 

Charitable donations can be made in Jeanette’s name to Helping Hands of Hickman County in BonAqua, TN.