Joe L. Ridley

He was born in Henderson County, the Hickory Flatt Community, the son of the late Benjamin Franklin and Alice Carter Ridley. He graduated Sardis High School in 1935. He moved to Chester County in 1935 and was married to Lidy Mae Howell in 1941. He entered the U.S. Navy April 1944, during WWII and served in the 440th Division aboard the USS Erriccson Destroyer and returned December 1945. They had lived in the Sweetlips Community since 1947, where he farmed and worked as a carpenter. He worked for Salant and Salant 1950-1960 and then returned to farming.He was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and had taught the adult Sunday School Class for forty years.Mr. Ridley is survived by a son-in-law Larry Browder (Margaret) of Sweetlips and four grandchildren: Bill Browder, Jr. (Vicki) of Memphis, Bob Browder (Laura) of Bartlett, Michi Grinder (Shane) of Eads, and Kim Thompson (Darryl) of Henderson and thirteen great grandchildren.He was preceded in death by his wife, Lidy Mae Howell Ridley in April 1999 and a daughter, Marcelle Browder in August 1999.