Kathy Tyson

Kathy Sue Ridenhour Tyson, age 62, passed peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2016 while a patient at Carolinas Medical Center-North East, Concord, North Carolina.  She was born November 8, 1953 in Stanly County (West Badin), North Carolina and was the daughter of the late Clyde and Sarah Smith Ridenhour. “Great is Thy faithfulness; morning by morning new mercies see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.” As we are saddened by the loss of our dear mother, grandmother, sister and friend, we find comfort in the lyrics of this hymn; and we give thanks for her life and the time we shared.

She received her formal education from West Badin School, but graduated from North Stanly High School, New London, North Carolina-Class of 1972 after integration.  While in her senior year of high school, she interned at Stanly Community College where she studied nursing.  She also took courses in Human Resources Development.  Her life-long profession was that of a homemaker and devoted mother to her children.

Kathy’s church affiliation was with McDonald Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Badin, North Carolina.  There, she sang on the Young Adult Choir and acted as President for a year and she became a Life Member in the Life Member Department of the Missionaries. 

Kathy was known in the West Badin Community as “Kat Sue” and was a positive woman known for her active humor and effervescent spirit. Community and civic minded, she was always willing to lend a helping hand to the elderly and mentoring the youth in the West Badin community as well as the Amhurst Gardens community.  She volunteered at the Stanly County Clothing Closet briefly in the 90s. Kathy had a talent for collecting newspaper articles from the SNAP and other magazines and posting them on her walls.  She received accolades from the newspaper for this feat.  She also enjoyed providing snacks and goodies to the neighborhood children and dabbling with art and decorating her apartment in holiday themes. Her other hobbies included avid reading, singing, watching sports on television, listening to music and cooking, and communicating with her children.

Along with her parents, she was preceding in death by three brothers: William “Sonny” “Bill” Ridenhour, Steve Ridenhour and Eugene Ridenhour.

She leaves behind two special daughters:  Natasha Tyson Wall, Charlotte, NC and Chantal Tyson, Atlanta, Georgia and two devoted sons: Machard Williams, Fayetteville, NC and Jerry Gourdine, of the home.  Kathy had ONE granddaughter that she loved wholeheartedly, Hannah-Kathryn Wall, Charlotte, North Carolina; a brother, Clyde E. Ridenhour, Fayetteville, North Carolina; a sister, Sarah Elizabeth (Xavier) Allen, Badin, North Carolina; special loved ones: Ryan Ridenhour and Ray Ridenhour; four uncles: Charlie Ridenhour, Gerald Ridenhour, Albert Ridenhour and Raymond Ridenhour; two aunts: Lucille Christian and Marie Mozone; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Those who would like to make monetary donations may address them to: Natasha Tyson Wall, 417 S. Bell Street, Albemarle, North Carolina 28001.

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