Lottie Mae Ridenhour

Obituary: At age 94, Lottie Mae Ridenhour left her earthly life and entered her eternal future on May 17, 2010. Born in Hiddenite, North Carolina, on June 11, 1915, she was born the eighth child and youngest daughter of John Franklin and Lily Millsap Childers. While still a teenager, she left the mountains to relocate in Kannapolis, first living with her sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Ernest Safrit, as she began what would become a long working life in the employment of Cannon Mills. After more than four decades at Cannon, but before retirement from the company, she launched a personal second career when she chose to attend cosmetology school and became a licensed beautician in the early 1960's. She always maintained a shop in her home, and as recently at age 91, she was, in her own words, "still doing five or six heads of hair a week." A very special outgrowth of her beautician business was her affiliation with Whitley's Funeral Home. In the late 1980's, Lottie became their "Go To Girl" for make-up and beauty service to their "departed patrons." The staff became a favored and integral part of her extended family. After arising at a very early hour, as was always her custom, her every Sunday morning began with a trip to the funeral home to deliver hot, freshly made ham biscuits for "my Whitley boys." Having completed this weekly ritual, it was on to Midway United Methodist Church, where she had been a faithful member for sixty-two and a half years. Lottie was dedicated to and supportive of all of her church's programs and activities. A definite highlight which she shared with many, was her before-dawn arrival at church to be "the onion-chopper" during the several years when the extremely popular hot dog sales were a welcome lunch-time offering throughout Kannapolis. These same Wednesday commitments were funding the building of a new parsonage, which quickly became identified as "The Hot Dog House." Lottie was also a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. Preceding Lottie in death were her parents, brothers Reuben, Jeff, Marvin, Quince, and Everette; sisters Laura, Millie, and Leva; husbands Clyde Lee "Bud" Nesbitt, Reuben Marshall Hatley, and Charles Edward Ridenhour, Sr. Surviving to be blessed by her memory and life-enriching legacies are her son Donald Lee Nesbitt, daughter-in-law Ruby Sluder Nesbitt; nieces Belinda Childers, Evelyn Easley, and Hazel Hileman; nephews Kenneth and Jeffrey Childers; beloved sisters-in-faith Maxine Carter and Margaret Taylor; and a host of treasured and supportive friends in her Fidelas Sunday School Class, the Hettie Womble Circle of the United Methodist Women, and the communities of Kannapolis and surrounding areas. Don and Ruby wish to extend a special note of appreciation to the staff at Horizon Bay Assisted Living facility in Concord, North Carolina, where their Mother had been a resident since May, 2008. The friends at Horizon Bay not only cared for her medically, but more importantly and genuinely cared for and loved her, always mentioning and appreciating the ever-present "Lottie-Smile." Whitley's Funeral Home will host a visitation for family and friends on Friday evening, May 21st. from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. A service for the celebration of her life will be conducted at Midway United Methodist Church, 708 South Main Street, Kannapolis, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., with the Reverend Dave Cash officiating. Friends are invited to offer contributions to Midway United Methodist Church or to the charity of one's choice in Lottie's name, as remembrances to honor her memory.
Visitation: 6-8:00 P.M. Friday at Whitley's Funeral Home.

Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 2010 at Midway U. Meth. Church.

Interment: Carolina Memorial Park.