Sondra Kaye Tidwell Oldham, of Athens, AL, passed away peacefully at home on September 18, 2025, surrounded by family after an extended illness. She is survived by her three children: Kathy Oldham, husband Charlie Sanders III of Birmingham; Sherry Coffee, husband Michael of Athens; and Charles Oldham of Birmingham. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Adena and Rowan Coffee.
Additional survivors include her sister, Beverly Buckins, husband Mickey of Muscle Shoals, and nephew Brad Grissom, wife April, and their two children of Birmingham; her brother, Bob Tidwell (since deceased), and his children: nieces, Suzanne Tidwell, her daughter, and Laura Martin her husband Dave Groom and her children; nephew Danny Tidwell, wife Cara, and their children; and nephew Michael Brady of Lakeland, Florida. Her adopted son, Thomas Gehlhaar of Germany, and her special friends, Norma Stewart, Mary Emma Turner Wakefield, and Linda Watson.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred A. Oldham Jr. “Jerry”, and her parents, W.C. “Tib” and Katherine Tidwell.
Sondra was born October 3, 1944, in Jefferson County to W.C. Tidwell Jr “Tib” and Katherine Barr Tidwell. She grew up in Florence and attended Gilbert School and was a 1962 graduate of Coffee High School. On June 1, 1963, she married Alfred Alaby Oldham Jr. “Jerry.”
Shortly after, she and Jerry would relocate to Fort Lee, Virginia, with their daughter while Jerry served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. After Jerry’s return, the family would move to Homewood, AL where she spent most of her life. In 1977, she graduated from University of Alabama, Birmingham with a BSN and worked at Brookwood Hospital as an RN until her retirement in 1994. She would later move to Athens, AL, to be closer to her family there.
In her adult years, Sondra became outgoing and deeply enjoyed meeting new people, forming friendships with those from all walks of life and from around the world, and reconnecting with friends from the past. She had a love for travel, shopping, and enjoyed spending time with family. Known for her generous spirit, Sondra delighted in buying gifts and showering her loved ones with affection.
At Sondra’s request, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Creating Hope for Paws (https://www.chfprescue.com/) or the Limestone County Animal Care & Control.
