Millie Jane Pittman Tillery
Millie Jane Tillery, went to her eternal rest on Friday, December 10, 2021. She slipped away peacefully in her sleep. Millie was born on December 16, 1926, to the late Ollie Pittman Sr., father and Annie Lee Pittman, mother of Halifax, North Carolina. She was married to William M Tillery on February 3, 1946, in Halifax, NC when she was 19 years old. They were married for 49 years and together, they raised 8 of 9 children in Chesapeake, VA, losing a child in his early age, Donald “Donnie” Tillery. When her husband William was diagnosed with Alsheimer’s, she took on the role as caretaker for him until he passed away on January 6, 1996.
Millie Jane was a housewife most of her life, where she raised all her eight children, sixteen grandchildren, most of her twenty-seven great grandchildren, and is dearly loved by her four great great grandchildren. Prior to that she worked as a Domestic Engineer at the Federation of Garden Clubs of Norfolk, and at Norfolk Cleaners. She lived in Virginia Beach for over 30 years
of her life with her daughter Cecelia Rush, where she babysat most of her great grandchildren, and hosted Thanksgiving dinners with her famous pork barbecue and collard green dishes. During those years, she was popular among the young, for her wise and funny stories, her dance moves, and terms of endearment. She never knew a stranger and would feed the neighborhood children. She was known to all as Grandma.
Millie was a wise woman, loved Jesus and was a powerful prayer warrior, where she led prayer and bible studies in her home in Virginia Beach with her extended family. Oftentimes in tough situations she would say, “I won’t complain”. She sang in the choir in her early days at the Old Mount Zion Baptist Church in Norfolk. All her family will remember her voice while singing old
spirituals around the house, quite often changing the words according to the season in her life.
She was an active member of Burning Bush Worship Center located in Norfolk, VA. prior to her illness. She attended Prayer and Praise and Bible Study faithfully. Millie was diagnosed with Dementia in 2009 and shortly after that went to live in Chesapeake, VA with her daughter Delia Holloway who cared for her for 10 years.
Millie has joined her predeceased family in heaven,husband William M. Tillery, children Ruth Barrett and Donnie Tillery, children in-laws Anthony Waheed and Sally Ruth Tillery, and her siblings Roy, Annette, Addie, Percy and Tang Pittman. Millie is survived by her children, Johnny Tillery (Cassandra), William Tillery, Linda Waheed, Cecelia Rush, Ophelia Nesbitt (Thomas), Delia Hollway, and Ann Fuller (Clifford). And a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.
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Cecelia T Rush says
December 17, 2021 at 2:48 pmI will forever Love and Miss my Mama! Rest In Peace mama!
Pamela Singletary says
December 17, 2021 at 4:00 pmOphelia, you and your family are in my thoughts. I pray that our heavenly Father grants you all comfort during this time of your loss, know that your mother is resting in peace. I pray that she will be among those that will be caught up to meet Him in the air, when He comes to claim his own.
Lovingly,
Pamela Satterfield-Singletary
Linda Waheed says
December 18, 2021 at 10:24 amMy mom was an awesome mother and raised us to focus on God first. I will always miss her and cherish my memories of her. I can imagine that you are singing the gospel songs with the other angels. I will always miss you and love you!!!!
Trevonne Cuffee says
December 19, 2021 at 10:00 amGrandma you are forever in my heart. Your legacy will remain. I love you so much. Thank you for the many memories, laughs, and wisdom that still resonates with me today! Rest peacefully!
Henry and Darlene Rush says
December 19, 2021 at 6:55 pmOur sincere condolences and prayers to Cecelia, Andre, Daniel, Trevonne and the entire Tilley family as you go through this difficult time. We will remember Ms. Millie as a sweet and wonderful lady. We will always remember her love for plants, especially the “peace lily”. I remember most, her cooking and her kindness. May peace and loving memories be with you. God bless you all, always.
Rashida Waheeba says
December 19, 2021 at 8:04 pmI will always love and never forget my GG (great grandma) your songs and sayings will always love in my heart #Always&forevet
Patricia Keith says
December 20, 2021 at 11:47 amMy sincere condolences 💐 to the Family for the loss of their dear loved one. I always remember Mrs. Tillery as being so sweet. She was a strong woman yet so mild spirited. Sending a message of hope to the family from Jehovah God (Psalm 83:18). There will be a resurrection as promised at John 5:28, 29 so we’ll see our dead loved ones again! In the meantime, 2 Cor 1: 3-5 “Praise to the Father of tender mercies and the God of comfort who comforts us in our trials”
Rosemary Sawyer says
December 21, 2021 at 11:37 amExtended my loving sincere condolences to the family of mother Millie J Tillery. A life to be celebrated.
Proverbs 31:26: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:28–29: “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done vittuously, but thou excellest them all. ‘”
Rosemary Sawyer says
December 21, 2021 at 1:14 pmThank you for sharing the Services and What A Beautiful service!
Enjoy your rest in “Glory”Ms Millie Jean Tillery. And Thank You for loving, and embracing, my Brother, Anthony, our brother like One of your own. He loved appreciated respected and adored you as the mother and mother-in-law your were. He and you shared a similar humor and neither of you will ever be forgotten.
To God Be All The Glory.
Rose S says
December 21, 2021 at 1:15 pmThank you for sharing the Services and What A Beautiful service!
Enjoy your rest in “Glory”Ms Millie Jean Tillery. And Thank You for loving, and embracing, my Brother, Anthony, our brother like One of your own. He loved appreciated respected and adored you as the mother and mother-in-law your were. He and you shared a similar humor and neither of you will ever be forgotten.
To God Be All The Glory.