South Carolina Woman with Dementia Found Safe After Going Missing on Valentine's Day

Annie B. Tisdale reunited with husband just in time for her birthday after several days of searching

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A 75-year-old South Carolina woman with dementia, Annie B. Tisdale, went missing on Valentine's Day while going to pick up food. After several days of searching, she was found safe in Toccoa, Georgia, about 75 miles from her home, and reunited with her husband of 55 years, James Tisdale Jr.

Why it matters

The case highlights the challenges faced by families caring for loved ones with dementia, as well as the importance of quick action and community support when someone goes missing. Annie's disappearance on a holiday like Valentine's Day also added an emotional element to the story.

The details

Annie B. Tisdale left her home on Valentine's Day to pick up food but never returned. Her husband, James Tisdale Jr., immediately contacted the police and they began searching. On Sunday, February 15, they tracked Annie's pickup truck using traffic cameras and found she had been spotted in Lavonia, Georgia. The family, including their son Jarrett, continued searching and sharing posts on social media. On Wednesday, February 18, Annie's truck was spotted on the side of the road in Toccoa, Georgia, about 75 miles from her home. She was found safe, unaware that she was lost, and was reunited with her husband.

  • Annie B. Tisdale went missing on Valentine's Day (February 14, 2026).
  • Police began searching for her on February 15, 2026.
  • Annie's truck was spotted in Lavonia, Georgia on February 15, 2026.
  • Annie was found safe in Toccoa, Georgia on February 18, 2026.
  • Annie's birthday is just two days after she was found (February 20, 2026).

The players

Annie B. Tisdale

A 75-year-old South Carolina woman with dementia who went missing on Valentine's Day.

James Tisdale Jr.

Annie's husband of 55 years who reported her missing and led the search efforts to find her.

Jarrett Tisdale

The Tisdales' son who flew in to help search for his mother and coordinate the community effort.

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What they’re saying

“Are we going find her in time, that, you know, she would be still alive? I was concerned that she was, she's missing medication.”

— James Tisdale Jr., Annie's husband

“I was preparing myself for, you know, both outcomes, dead or alive.”

— Jarrett Tisdale, Annie's son

“Was I sleeping? Well, no. I was just mainly praying. Praying that someway, somehow, she would be found.”

— James Tisdale Jr., Annie's husband

What’s next

The Tisdale family is focused on Annie's recovery and celebrating her upcoming birthday now that she has been safely reunited with her husband.

The takeaway

This heartwarming story highlights the importance of quick action, community support, and perseverance when a loved one with dementia goes missing. It also underscores the emotional toll such situations can take on families, and the relief felt when a missing person is found safe.