The news comes from Maddie's ex-mother-in-law, Bonnie Townsend ( Judith Ivey ), who contacts Maddie ( Joanna Garcia Swisher) and informs her that Bill has suffered a fatal heart attack. His sudden death (which happens off-screen) devastates his children, ex-wife and friends.

The Sweet Magnolias could be down one of its three members when the Netflix show returns for season 5. Sweet Magnolias Season 4 ended on a cliffhanger as Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) seemed to have left Serenity (and the show) forever to accept a marketing job at a publishing house in New York City,