Edith Tinnes

• Edith Fielden Tinnes
• August 28, 1944 – April 3, 2026
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Magic. That is the word that many who have known Edith have used to describe her.

Edith was born in Houston, Texas to Virgil and Estelle Fielden. Her father was a Baptist preacher, so the family moved around East Texas from parsonage to parsonage. Her mother was the consummate church hostess welcoming families in each town where they lived. Her sister, Barbara, and brother, V.A. kept the household lively.

Edith always had a flair and was a high school cheerleader – and then auditioned for and was invited to join the inaugural Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders team. She continued cheering in college at East Texas Baptist College, where she was an elementary education major and theatre minor. She also was Miss ETBC and a member of Sigma Iota Chi sorority.

She started her teaching career near Beaumont, Texas and soon met the love of her life, Sherman, in Sunday School. (Sherman was a Navy flyer and later confessed to attending Sunday School because he heard Baptist ladies were the cutest.) They were married soon after – by her father - who was the church pastor. They eventually welcomed daughters, Christy & Cindy.

After being transferred to Aiken, South Carolina with Dupont, the family settled into Gem Lakes, where they lived for over 50 years. Edith taught elementary school at Millbrook, Laurens Street, Chukker Creek, and Aiken Prep and was active in Delta Kappa Gamma education sorority. She is probably best known for being the co-director of the Small World Puppets at First Baptist, where she played Miss Prissy and Betsy Ross and helped lead the puppet team to shows at schools, churches, festivals, and military bases across the country.

She and Sherman were married 58 years. They traveled the world and especially loved cruising – from big luxury liners across the ocean to self-drive barges on the canals of Europe. Their last cruise together was a 30-day jaunt from California to Tahiti and back. But she always said her favorite spot was South Beach in Sea Pines, where the family gathered more times than we can count. No matter what, Edith was always dancing – aerobics, square dance, line dance, round dance, and hula. She and Sherman danced across the country as part of the Carolina Squares. Edith also shared her magic with granddaughters, Lacey, Holly, and Ashley – whom she roped into numerous hula dances and puppet shows.

Edith is survived by her husband, Sherman, and daughters Christy Tinnes Volpe (Frank) of Annapolis, Maryland and Cindy Tinnes Purvis (David) of Granville, Ohio; granddaughters Lacey, Holly, and Ashley Purvis of Granville, Ohio; and Texas family members, Palma Lynn & Jim Norwood, David & Pam Fielden, and V.A. Fielden. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Virgil and Estelle Fielden, her sister and brother-in-law, Barbara & Charles Robertson, sister-in-law Carolyn Tice Fielden, and in-laws, Martha Ruth Parrish and Pat Robertson.

In 2010, Edith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She did not let it stop her. She continued dancing with “Dance for Parkinson’s” and was proud to be a guest patient presenter to physical therapy classes at Augusta University and to participate in studies related to dance and Parkinson’s. Once she needed more assistance than could safely be provided at home, she moved to Barclay House, where Sherman, Christy, or Cindy visited every single day. Even during challenges, they laughed and found joy every single day. We are so proud of Edith’s courage, grace, and perseverance. We will miss her every single day.

We would like to thank everyone who has been on this journey with us, but especially Dr. Julie Kurek from the Medical College of Georgia Department of Neurology: Movement Disorders; Dr. Charlotte Chatto from the Augusta University Department of Physical Therapy; Amber Davis and Liz Neal from Long Term Liaisons; and the caregivers and therapists from TLC At Home Healthcare, Your Aging Therapist, and Crescent Hospice. We also thank the First Baptist - Aiken Men’s Ministry for building a ramp at our house. And finally, we are so grateful for the compassionate and truly amazing caregivers, residents, and families in Groves Memory Care at Barclay House. You have become our extended family.

The family will hold a private burial service at the National Cemetery in Beaufort, SC and will hold a celebration of Edith’s life at a later date. If you would like to honor Edith, please consider a donation to Dance for Parkinson’s www.danceforparkinsons.org, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org), or the First Baptist Church – Aiken Men’s Ministry (please specify fund).

SHELLHOUSE - RIVERS FUNERAL HOME, 715 EAST PINE LOG RD., AIKEN, SC