Mary (Sissy) Mull Tillman

Mary "Sissy" Mull Tillman, 83, of Valdosta died Tuesday, July 6, 2010. She was born in Rome, Georgia on December 4, 1926 to the Joseph Harrison Mull, M.D. and Sarah Veal Mull. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty nine years, H. Harrison Tillman, Sr. and one brother, Joseph Harrison Mull, Jr., who was lost while serving his country in World War II. After graduating from Rome High School, Sissy attended St. Mary's in Raleigh, NC., Ward Belmont in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Sissy was an active member of the Chi Omega fraternity at the University and later assisted in sponsoring the Valdosta State University Chapter. She married Harrison Tillman, Sr. of Valdosta, Georgia on November 30, 1950 and they raised five children together. Sissy made time to serve both her church and community during these active years providing volunteer services at Christ Episcopal Church, St. James Episcopal Church, Valwood School, the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and the Valdosta Symphony Guild. She was an Associate of the Order of St. Helena and an officer and member of the Episcopal Church Women. She served as an officer of The Valdosta Garden Center and the Town and Country Garden Club participating in Flower Shows and as a Flower Show Judge; she was honored with a Life Membership in the State and National Garden Club. During her later years, Sissy was active in the General James Jackson Chapter of the DAR serving as President, attending both State and National Conventions.
Survivors include her brother and sister in law, Colonel (ret.) James R. Sawyer and Dr. Kathleen G. Sawyer of San Antonio, TX., daughter, Mary Eloise Tillman Bowers and son in law, D. H. "Buzz" Bowers of Tega Cay, SC., son, Joseph Harrison Tillman, Sr. and daughter in law, Pamela K. Tillman of Hahira, daughter, Sarah Belinda "Bonnie" Tillman Shealy and son in law, L. Mack Shealy of Augusta, GA., son, H. Harrison Tillman, Jr. and daughter in law, Janice Holly Loeffler, M.D. of Valdosta, daughter, Cordelia "Dede" Tillman Leon and son in law, David Anthony Leon of Hahira, grandchildren, Mary Rebecca Bowers Conners and husband, Joseph Lamont Conners, Jr., Sara Elizabeth Bowers Tintle and husband, Sean Christopher Tintle, Rev. Joseph Harrison Tillman, Jr. and wife, Melanie H. Tillman, Eric Matthew Tillman and wife, Emily R. Tillman, Kelsey Elizabeth Tillman, Kaleb Tillman, Belinda Elizabeth Shealy Beatty and husband, Kip Jason Beatty, Anna Cordelia Shealy Abbott and husband, Justin Ryan Abbott, Robert Harrison Tillman, Stephanie Holly Tillman, Mary Elizabeth Leon Crouso and husband, Timothy Ryan Crouso, Stephen Tillman Leon and Christina Belmonte Leon, great grandchildren, Abigail Catherine Conners, Grace Elizabeth Conners, Luke Samuel Tillman, Koby Tyler Beatty and Kaden Colt Beatty, brother in law and sister in law, I.H. "Bubber" Tillman and Mary Ellen Tillman of Hahira.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:30-7:30p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 11am, Saturday, July 10, 2010 in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Joseph H. Tillman, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, 527 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31601, Valdosta Symphony Guild, P. O. Box 1872, Valdosta, GA 31603, The Crescent Garden Center or Valdosta Garden Center 904 N. Patterson St., Valdosta, GA 31601, St. James Episcopal Church, 306 N. Court St., Quitman, GA 31643, Valdosta Historical Society, 305 W. Central Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601, Presbyterian Home, 1901 W. Screven St., Quitman, GA 31643. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602