I.H. "Bubber" Tillman, Jr.

I.H. “Bubber” Tillman, Jr., 87, of Valdosta, peacefully passed the morning of February 3, 2018 in Valdosta, Georgia. Mr. Tillman was born in Valdosta on June 4, 1930 to I.H. “Zeke” Tillman and Eloise Little Tillman. Bubber remained a lifelong resident of the city until his passing. He was educated in the Valdosta City School system and graduated from Valdosta High School in 1948 and played on the 1947 State Champion football team for Coach Wright Bazemore. He then attended the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order and graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Like most men of his generation, he served in the military. In 1952 he enlisted in the United States Army and graduated from Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1953. After active service, Captain Tillman served as a company commander of the local Georgia National Guard. In 1954 Bubber began his insurance career with his father Zeke at Tillman Insurance Agency and worked there until his semi-retirement in 1995.

Bubber was involved with many civic activities throughout his life. He was a Jaycee and served as President, chairing the 1957 United Fund drive, chaired the Chamber of Commerce committee to form the present day VSU Foundation and served as the first chairman. He also served as Chairman of the Valdosta City Board of Education and two terms on the Valdosta City Council. He was a lifelong member of First Christian Church serving as a deacon, elder, board chairman and a Sunday school teacher.

Bubber is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary C. “Tootsie” Tillman, three sons and daughters in law, Hamilton and Cheri Tillman of Valdosta, Alex and Steffi Tillman of Fitzgerald and Dan and Amanda Tillman of Valdosta. His five grandchildren that he adored include Reeves, Bo, Liz, Emerson and McKey. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother and sister-in-law H. Harrison Tillman and Mary M. Tillman.

The funeral will be held Wednesday, February 7th, at 11:00AM at First Christian Church. Dr. Thom Gibson will officiate. A reception will follow the ceremony in the church’s Fellowship Hall and the cremains will be interred in the First Christian Memorial Garden following a private family committal. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home