Attendance clerk at Louisville elementary school who 'loved those kids' dies from COVID-19

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For the past 12 years, Arethia Tilford loved working as an attendance clerk and helping students at Lincoln Elementary Performing Arts School.

"She would always emphasize it's about the kids," said her husband, Mark Tilford. "She always loved helping, directing and consoling her kids."

Whenever they can return to school, the young learners at Lincoln Elementary will not be able to see "Miss Arethia" and hear her greet them with a "good morning, sunshine" to start the day.

On Saturday, Tilford died at Norton Hospital after a 25-day battle with COVID-19.

She was 56 years old.

Her husband said she tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the start of November.

The couple, who have a 17-year-old son, Malachi, as well as four other children from previous relationships, are not sure how or where Tilford was exposed to the virus.

Her husband said "we did everything we could to stay safe," such as wearing masks, practicing social distancing and washing hands often.

"I took her to Norton on Nov. 3, and that's the last time I saw her," he said.

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When she was not at Lincoln Elementary, which is located near downtown Louisville, Tilford worked as a licensed cosmetologist with her sister at her own beauty salon, Blessings from Above.

Mark said his wife exercised and made sure to go in for regular examinations over the years to maintain good health. Giving birth to her youngest child caused damage to her diaphragm that eventually required lung surgery, which may have contributed to Tilford's struggle with COVID-19, Mark added.

While in the hospital, Tilford received well-wishes and cards from Lincoln Elementary teachers and parents, her husband said. 

It was just one example of how much Tilford meant to the Lincoln Elementary family.

"We went on vacation a couple summers ago, and at the Atlanta airport, she saw some parent (from Lincoln) who recognized her and gave her a hug," Mark said. "She loved working with those kids, and she loved those kids."

The family has planned a funeral for Monday, and Lincoln Elementary leaders said they are working on setting up a scholarship fund for Tilford's son.

Administrators will create a "sunshine award" in "Miss Arethia's honor," Lincoln Elementary Principal Susan French-Epps said.

"This award will honor both an employee and a graduating fifth grader from our school who represents Miss Arethia's joyous spirit, work ethic and optimism," French-Epps said. "Our goal is to spread her sunshine to others, ensuring that life's lessons learned from Miss Arethia will live on.

"Miss Arethia worked hard, was kind, polite, professional and very loyal to our Lincoln family and JCPS. Her sense of humor kept us laughing, and her positive spirit helped us to experience joy even on the dreariest of days," French-Epps added. "She loved her family, but especially her children with all her heart. It is a tragedy that this virus took our bright light away from us, and she will be tremendously missed."

"Ms. Arethia will always be in our hearts," the school wrote Monday in a post on its Facebook page that featured a photo of Tilford dressed up as Thing Two from "The Cat in the Hat" book by Dr. Seuss. "She taught us when you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine. Please share your stories and:or photos to help us continue to spread sunshine."

Gov. Andy Beshear brought up Tilford during his Thursday afternoon coronavirus briefing, when he also announced 3,895 new COVID-19 cases and 34 more virus-related deaths.

Tilford "touched the lives of every child who walked through that school's door," Beshear said.

"We are so thankful for everything that she has done," Beshear said. "And to to her family, we are so sorry."

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In defending his order for schools to hold only virtual classes until early January, the governor has pointed to the ability of COVID-19 to impact schools — even those like Lincoln Elementary that have remained closed since March — by infecting support staff like Tilford, as well as teachers, custodians, bus drivers and students.

As he started to choke up during a phone call with a Courier Journal reporter, Mark said his wife "was loved by so many people."

"It’s devastating when a person who is in very reasonably good health goes to the hospital, and then 25 days later, she’s gone," he said. "But she was a beautiful person inside and out. She was the love of my life."

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com.