Louise Tildon

The daughter of Gladys Ruth Smith (nee Stewart) and Ambrose Smith, Louise Gladys Smith was born on April 30th, 1926 in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised in her early years in Baltimore’s Sugar Hill neighborhood, Louise was the middle child to older siblings Ambrose and Elaine, and younger brothers Lewis and Stewart. Like her mother, Louise was passionate about education. A graduate of Douglass High School, Louise went on to attend Coppin State University and graduated with a BA in Teaching Education. Always striving to improve her skills, she also attended New York University and received her teaching certificate from its School of Education. Upon graduation from Coppin, Louise went on to teach in the Baltimore City Public Schools system. Her first teaching assignment was at PS 104, where she and all her siblings had attended school. Her teaching skills were so outstanding that one of her lessons was televised live on a Baltimore TV station during the 1950's. She later rose through the ranks to become principal at PS 86 Lakewood Elementary. After a long career working in the city school system, influencing the lives of thousands of Baltimore City school children, Louise retired from her “first” job in 1979. In 1954, Louise met the love of her life during an evening out at the Sphinx Club on Baltimore’s famed Pennsylvania Avenue. She was there with her then current boyfriend, but Charles flirted with her anyway and he was bold enough to ask for her phone number. She was so impressed that she gave him her phone number. After a long courtship, Charles and Louise married in April of 1956 eventually settling down for over 40 years in the Ashburton neighborhood of Baltimore. Eventually Charles and Louise welcomed their son, Charles G. Tildon, III or “Chuck”. Louise and Charles’ love for Chuck, their only child, had no bounds -- they worked to meet his every need – encouraging his love for baseball, music and travel with them as well as with his uncle Tyson and cousin Jay. Charles and Louise loved to socialize, whether with her sister Elaine and her husband Brown in Cape May New Jersey, or with the Guardsmen or the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, where they travelled all over the world to party and explore other cultures. In the midst of their exciting and jet-setting lives, a new obsession was revealed, her grandchildren – Drew and Kyle. While Louise’s love for her son Chuck was not to be outshone, when her granddaughter Drew and grandson Kyle came along her love rose to new heights. She was instantly transformed into grandmother extraordinaire, spending every opportunity to spoil, dote, and serve as an pure example, as Drew has said, “of kindness and selflessness” to her grandchildren. While passionate about educating children, Drew and Kyle in particular, those who knew her well know that she was also deeply passionate about the church – serving the Lord and his people -- specifically the parishioners of St. Gregory the Great. Working hand in hand with her pastor and dear friend Father Damien Nalepa, Louise served in many roles at St. Gregory’s including Senior Pastoral Associate and Director of Religious Education for more than 30 years, reluctantly retiring only after her health made it difficult for her to continue to serve. On December 11, 2016 surrounded by family and loved ones, Louise went home to be with her beloved husband Charles and her other friends and family who have gone before her. Louise leaves to mourn her dedicated and devoted son Charles “Chuck” G. Tildon III, her daughter in-law, Maria Harris Tildon (“Penny”); her granddaughter Drew Ellen Tildon and grandson Kyle Charles Tildon, her brothers Stewart Smith (Loretta), Ambrose Smith (Joanne); sister in law Sania Amr, nieces Adrienne, Erica, Jill, Levia, Nicole, Sania and nephews Michael, Jay and Bradford.

Tributes

Louise Tildon

April 30, 1926 - December 11, 2016