Biography

Cedrick R. Tidwell, Sr., was born in Charlotte, NC, the oldest of two sons born to Odessa M. Tidwell and Joseph Wise.  At an early age, he relocated to Chester, SC where he received his strong Christian foundation in the home of his grandparents, the late Willis and Odessa Isom Tidwell. Cedrick is a product of the Chester County School System and is a proud graduate of Chester Senior High School and Winthrop University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1999 and Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2004.  He went on to receive an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 2011.  Cedrick is currently in his twenty- seventh year as a South Carolina Educator.  He spent five years as a High School Social Studies Teacher, ten years as a High School Assistant Principal, and nine years as a middle school principal in both Chester and Richland Counties.  He is currently in his third year as the Coordinator of Student Hearings for Richland School District One in Columbia, South Carolina.

 

Cedrick is married to the former Sonya Sowell Tidwell of Manning, SC, and they are the proud parents of one son, Cedrick, Jr. better known as “C.J.”  He is an active member of the Gethsemane Baptist Church in Chester, where he serves as the Marshal of the Vocal Choir and the Chairman of the Church Cemetery Committee. Cedrick is a twenty-five year Brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he is a Life Member and proudly serves as Parliamentarian and Charter Member of the Sigma Tau Lambda “Stateline” Chapter in the Greater Fort Mill, SC area. He is also a member of numerous other religious, civic, and professional organizations to include the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA), South Carolina Education Association (SCEA), Alpha Class of the SC Democratic Party’s Clyburn Fellowship, and President of A.P. & B. Society Lodge #1.

 

Cedrick was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on May 5, 2001, and has held the following Masonic distinctions:

  • Past Master of Acacia Lodge #32
  • Past District Deputy of the Fifth Masonic District
  • Past Special Deputy, District Five
  • Past Assistant District Secretary
  • Past Grand Historian
  • Past Patron of Josephus Chapter #160, Order of the Eastern Star
  • Past District Associate Patron of the Former SC District Three O.E.S.
  • First District Patron of the Newly Formed District Five of O.E.S.
  • Past High Priest of Lily of the Valley #24 Holy Royal Arch Masons
  • Past Special Deputy, District Five Holy Royal Arch Masons
  • Past Worthy Joshua of Bailey- Starr Court #5 Heroines of Jericho
  • Past Thrice Illustrious Master of Hiram Abiff Council #3 (Charlotte, NC)
  • Past Chief Royal Advisor of the Caesar R. Blake Court #4 L.O.C.O.P (Charlotte, NC)
  • Past Eminent Commander of Alpha Commandery #1 (Charlotte, NC)
  • Past Potentate and Imperial Deputy of the Oasis of Menzel Temple #35, AEAONMS, Inc.
  • Past Co-Deputy for Creations for the SC Desert Nobles of the AEAONMS, Inc.
  • Past Noble Advisor to Menzel Court #153 Daughters
  • Grand Inspector General and Past Commander-in Chief, Lancaster Consistory #254
  • Past Grand Hospitaler for the SC Council of Deliberation

He currently serves as:

  • Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden of the MWPHGL of South Carolina
  • District Deputy for District Five Holy Royal Arch Masons
  • Regional Coordinator for Region 5 of the SC Council of Deliberation
  • Vice-President of the SC Commanders of the Rite
  • Treasurer of the Benjamin L. Hooks Class of 2010 of the United Supreme Council, Prince Hall Affiliated, Southern Jurisdiction
  • Decurion of King of Kings Conclave #5 of Chi Rho Fraternity, Inc.

His other Masonic affiliations:

  • John Underwood Council #6, R&S Masters
  • Boaz Commandery #1, Knights Templar
  • Herbert Bell Shaw Chapter of the Phylaxis Society

In his spare time, Cedrick enjoys studying history, reading items of African-American interest, traveling, fishing, and cooking.  His favorite scripture is found in Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”  The motto that he lives by is “Always do your very BEST, and the BEST will come back to you.”