Gladys Rhea

Gladys married Jonathon Hampton Hyder on 3 Sep 1925 in Sullivan County, , , Tennessee. Jonathon (son of William Blount Carter Hyder and Jemima Annie Belle (Hyder)) was born on 26 Sep 1889 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 12 Feb 1974 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

A dedicated servant to God, the poor, and the weak, as well as a loving mother and wife, Dr. Marjorie Nelle Hyder Cardwell, 82, went home to our Lord and Savior on December 26, 2009, after a brief illness.

She was born to Jonathan Hampton Hyder and Gladys Rhea Hyder of Elizabethton in the same home where her son now resides. Seventy years ago Marjorie Nelle accepted Jesus as her Savior in the same church where she later taught Sunday School for decades, First Baptist Church of Elizabethton. Marjorie Nelle and her husband, Bob, were inseparable. Their worldwide travels presented them countless opportunities to witness to others. Marjorie Nelle's favorite verse, Matthew 25:40, was her life's motto. "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." These words guided her to crusade for the rights of those less fortunate.

Although Marjorie Nelle lived in Greenwood, SC, Ormond Beach, FL, and Nashville, TN, her roots as a Hyder and Rhea ran deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Dr. Cardwell taught Speech & Hearing in the Elizabethton City Schools for several years while starting classes for the mentally handicapped. In 1969 she went into state government with Dr. James Willett at Greene Valley Developmental Center. Her life-long passion became a career that spanned over three decades. Marjorie Nelle fought for developmentally disabled citizens' rights from the hills of east Tennessee to the top of Capitol Hill in Nashville. She and Bob were active in the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), Holston Methodist Home for Children, the Carter County-Elizabethton Library Association, First Baptist Church of Elizabethton, the Southern Baptist Convention, Watauga Association, Hale Community Ministries, along with many organizations that benefited people of all walks of life. Although Dr. Cardwell held many degrees, her most notable education was through her developmentally disabled son, Robbie.

Known to everyone as Marjorie Nelle, her tiny frame was mighty. There was no mountain, judge, or crusade that was bigger than her and her faith. Goliath would have run! Her career as an advocate for people with developmental disabilities began when her son, Robbie, was born in 1950. However, she was an advocate for all people regardless of how differently-abled or their status in society. Dr. Cardwell was known state-wide as a crusader not only in upper east Tennessee as Superintendent of Greene Valley Developmental Center, but across the entire state of Tennessee and to other states. She served as Superintendent of Clover Bottom Developmental Center, and after retiring was asked to return as Assistant Commissioner and later as Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

Dr. Cardwell is survived by her sons, Robert E. (Robbie) Cardwell, III and Jon Hampton Cardwell and wife, Julie all of Elizabethton; and her daughter, Jennifer Lynn (gin) Cardwell Perkins and her husband, Steve, Hermitage, TN. She is also survived by her sister, Jane Rhea Hyder Clayton and husband, Neville T., Daytona Beach, FL; and her sister-in-laws, Leunah Cardwell (Doodle) Tipton, Elizabethton and Mary Ruth Cardwell Ownby, Richmond, VA. Her six grandchildren: Robert (Bobby) Dail, Rachelann, and Jon Thomas (Tommy) Cardwell, and Austin Bradford, Dustin Andrew, and Sarai Linnea Perkins along with her two great-grandchildren, Tristan Perkins and Maria Medina Perkins, will always fondly remember their MomMom. Her husband and best friend of sixty years, Robert Ernest Cardwell, Jr., Daddy Bob, was welcomed into God's arms on December 13, 2008.

A service to celebrate the life of Marjorie Nelle Cardwell will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church with Dr. James Royston and Dr. David Irby officiating. Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Happy Valley Memorial Park with the Rev. Bob Polk and Rev. Ron Owens officiating. The eulogy will be given by Mr. Jon Cardwell. Music will be provided by Julie Cardwell, Sally Shook Harris, and Erica Yoon, violinist. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the church at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and at the funeral home at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, will be deacons and the Potter's Clay Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church.

Marjorie married Robert Ernest Cardwell on 18 Oct 1948 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Robert was born about 1926 in , Avery County, North Carolina, ; died on 13 Dec 2008 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Happy Valley Memorial Park, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On April 20, 2018, J.R. (Jane Rhea) Hyder Clayton departed this material world to join again with her husband in heaven, Neville T. (Cowboy) Clayton.
Born in Elizabethton, Tenn., on December 2, 1930, she grew up in her Appalachian Mountain home. She thrived in Elizabethton while enjoying riding her horse along with spending many enjoyable moments with her precious dog, Skippy. J.R. developed pneumonia at the age of 5 and was the first to receive an O2 tank in her country home which saved her life. However, during this time of illness she was introduced to a world, miles away, called Daytona Beach when someone showed her a picture of a palm tree on a beach and never forgot this paradise. Once healed from this traumatic illness, J.R. attended elementary school and graduated from Elizabethton High School in 1948 where she was voted Senior Superlative Best Speaker. She went on to attend East Tennessee State University from 1948 to 1951, then graduated with a Medical Technology degree from Duke University in 1953.
J.R. started her career as medical technologist in Abingdon, Va., at Johnston Memorial Hospital from 1953 to 1955 but had her sights set on a warmer climate. She took a job at Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach as Chief Technologist from 1955 to 1960. During this time she met 'The Most Eligible Bachelor from Daytona Beach' while skiing at Wilders Cut in 1955. Friends remember her as saying "That's the man I am going to marry!" So indeed, they married on September 28, 1956 at Calvary Baptist Church in Daytona Beach. She was a faithful choir member at Calvary from 1956 to 1963 when GOD led her to uncharted territory in South Daytona. From the Baptist Chapel in Daytona Beach, J.R. was involved in becoming a Charter Member of First Baptist Church of South Daytona in 1967. While being instrumental in birthing this new community church, she dove in to volunteering in the choir, teaching women's Sunday school classes, pulpit committee member, sanctuary building committee member along with numerous other committees. She was a faithful volunteer as long as the shrimp weren't running in the Halifax River. J.R. did not limit her volunteering activities to her church but to other avenues as well. She was a believer of the neighborhood school systems and was a strong opponent of school busing. She was a charter member of the first Volusia County Advisory Committee for the Volusia County School Board. She also served as chairman for this committee until terms were limited. (She claimed they limited terms because she 'worried' them)!
J.R. was awarded the honor of 'Lay Person of the Year' in 1987 by the local Phi Delta Kappa Chapter. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Major Folsom Chapter in Elizabethton. She served on the South Daytona Elementary School Advisory Council. J.R. served on the State Textbook Council for the Social Studies until 2003 when loss of her sight prevented further service. J.R.'s loss of vision did not prevent her from serving the Lord in other capacities. She continued her service and passion for volunteering when she was chosen as Outreach Director for First Baptist Church of South Daytona. She was also the first Purple Hat recipient from the Women of Grace. Because she was a Charter member of her hometown church, she volunteered as church Historian for many years.
J.R. is predeceased by her husband, Neville (Cowboy) Clayton, of 62 years, and her dear sister, Dr. Marjorie Nelle Cardwell of Elizabethton. She leaves her devoted children, Becca, Preston, and Dorislyn along with numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other loving family members.