Nashville – Clark Hickman Tidwell of Nashville Tennessee passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025 at home, from Parkinson’s disease. He was 87.
Born on April 29, 1938, and raised in Centerville, Tennessee, Mr. Tidwell was the son of Paul Hickman Tidwell and Hazel Youree Tidwell. He was a member of Centerville United Methodist Church and attended Hickman County High School. As a Sigma Chi at Vanderbilt, he met Ann Campbell Dobson on her first day as a freshman and pinned her before he left to serve as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in Okinawa. To ensure the love of his life would still be waiting for him when he got home, he proposed by sending an engagement ring through the mail. In 1962, they married, and Ann supported him while he attended and completed Vanderbilt law school in 1965. As partner in his law firm, Mr. Tidwell built a formidable career in eminent domain law, where he helped shape communities across Tennessee, balancing progress with fairness in complex land disputes. He practiced law until he passed.
An ardent outdoorsman, Mr. Tidwell found solace and joy in nature. He was an avid hiker, whitewater canoeist, and passionate environmentalist. A member of the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association for 58 years, he enjoyed adventures with friends and family on rivers across the country, highlighted by solo canoeing the Grand Canyon. His commitment to environmental preservation was profound. He was instrumental in saving Radnor Lake from development, founding the Friends of Radnor Lake, in his living room, with Ann and others. He instilled a love of the outdoors in his sons and his grandchildren.
Known for his positive outlook, Mr. Tidwell, a Rotarian, approached life with a rare blend of humor and wisdom. Friends and colleagues often spoke of his mischievous grin which was disarming, even in the most serious moments. He was a storyteller, a guide, and a man who never met a stranger. His life was marked by laughter, love, and an enduring connection to the land and people he held dear.
In addition to his wife, Ann, Mr. Tidwell is survived by his sons: Paul Hickman Tidwell (Jenny) and Howard Dobson Tidwell (Kelli), and his four grandchildren: Campbell Lynn Tidwell, Howard Hickman Tidwell, Davis Dobson Tidwell, and Miriam Ann Tidwell. The family would like to thank his devoted paralegal, Julie Cottingham, as well as Jennifer Clemmons and her staff for exemplary care.
A memorial service will be held on Sept. 13. at 3:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 2:30 pm in Courtenay Hall, First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Friends of Radnor Lake, 1160 Otter Creek Rd Nashville, TN 37220, www.radnorlake.org.
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