Lydia Tilley Effler has been serving as the register of deeds in McDowell County since 2020.

Lydia has been working as a detention officer for the McDowell County Sheriff's office for the past few years. Beginning in 1997, she worked in records management for the sheriff at the time for 15 years.

Lydia was born and raised in McDowell County, where she still lives with her husband and 2 daughters. She attended McDowell Technical Community College and graduated with a basic law enforcement certification. She also completed detention officer school at Mayland Community College. Lydia is a Christian.