S.E. Kidd's Obituary
S.E. KIDD, Jr. May 11, 1914 – April 29, 2010 S.E. Kidd, Jr., who was born in Memphis and lived nearly all his life there, died last Thursday in Seattle, WA at the age of 95. He moved there in 2006 to live with his son, Reiley, and Reiley’s wife, Deborah. S.E. went to Messick High School, and then West Tennessee State Teachers College (now University of Memphis), graduating in 1935. He played the trombone in jazz bands in high school and college, and was his fraternity president, as well as his junior and senior class president in college. He played college football as a tackle, even though he weighed only 175 lbs, and remembers getting embarrassed by Ole Miss, 35-0 his senior year. After receiving Masters degrees in Religious Education and Sacred Music from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1940, S.E. served in churches in Newport News, VA, El Dorado, AR; and Oklahoma City OK. He left full-time religious work in 1946 to work for the Lustra Corporation, selling industrial and commercial lighting, and returned to Memphis TN. He continued to work for Lustra for 57 years, finally retiring in 2003. Despite leaving full-time ministry, he served several Memphis churches as their choir director, first at Temple Baptist for 3 years, and then Eudora Baptist Church, where he served for over 10 years. After his beloved wife Roberta died in 1962, S.E. married Betty Helen Brewer, of Birmingham, AL in 1964. They were married for nearly 41 years, when Betty died in May, 2005. S.E. will always be remembered for his commitment to his Savior, his devotion to his church, his honesty and integrity in his work as well as his infectious smile, great sense of humor, and marvelous laugh. His natural good nature and positive outlook, and his high standards and strong Christian faith set a great example for his children, his family, and all who knew him. He is survived by his sons, Reiley (Deborah) Kidd of Seattle and Rodney (Lindy) Kidd of Mannheim, Germany; 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. The visitation will be from 12 noon until 1pm Tuesday, May 4. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 4 at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the “Kidd – German Church Building Fund,” Baptist International Missions, Inc., Attn: Accounts Receivable, P.O. Box 9215, Chattanooga, TN 37412, or to Samaritan’s Purse.
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