Irene Tidwell Mallard, age 78, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at her home in Statesboro under the care of Regency SouthernCare Hospice. Irene was born on May 23, 1947 in Metter, GA to the late Lonnie Edward Tidwell and Lillie Lucinda McCullough. She was raised in Metter and graduated from Metter High School in 1965. Soon after high school she married Doy Jack Mallard and they moved to the family farm in Statesboro and started their family. Irene was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and geat-grandmother.
She enjoyed planting flowers, painting and decorating her home, and writing short stories and poems, several of which have been published. She worked for several years at Pride Manufacturing in Portal where she made many lasting friendships. Irene was also a member of Temple Hill Baptist Church Her passion in life though was her family and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
Irene is survived by her three sons, Randy (Kristy) Mallard, Robbie (Betsy) Mallard, and Rathan Mallard, her grandchildren, Ashley Miller, Amanda Mallard, Jenna Mallard, Jackson Mallard, Brady Mallard, Lilly Mallard, and Joshua Mallard, two great-grandchildren, Daniel Miller and Elena Lott, her sister, Jean Picknell, as well as several special nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors on Sunday from 2:00pm until 3:00pm at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro. The funeral service will follow at 3:00pm with Pastor Thomas Hendrix officiating.
Interment will be at Upper Mill Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Alan Spence, Stacy Spence, Joshua Mallard, Brady Mallard, Jackson Mallard, and Jeremiah Kirkhart.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to a charity that was very special to Mrs. Mallard, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at www.sjude.org
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
