James Leslie Tillman, 74

James Leslie Tillman, also known as “Tiny”, age 74, passed away Monday, October 6, 2008, at Sumner Regional Medical Center. The funeral service for James Leslie Tillman was conducted Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. from the Alexander Funeral Home Chapel with Elder Eddie Gregory and Brother Bryan Austin officiating.

Ricky Sewell, Andrew Evetts, Roy Gene Hammock, Don Traylor, Jimmy Glover, Nathan Lee, and Lonnie Evetts served as honorary pallbearers. Stephen Austin, Michael Evetts, Phillip Brawner, Nichols Tillman, Jerry Brawner, Brad Austin, Tim Moore, and Terry Brawner served as active pallbearers. Interment followed in the Green Grove Cemetery.

James Leslie Tillman was born on Thursday, March 8, 1934, in Trousdale County, Tenn. He was the son of Andrew and Susie Pruitt Tillman, who preceded him in death. He married the former Shelby Ann Brawner on October 17, 1953, sharing fifty-four years together and raising two sons.

James served in the United States Army, worked for Rocktenn in Gallatin, had been the owner of the Lafayette Theater for nineteen years, and worked as supervisor and bus driver for fifteen years for the Macon County Board of Education. The kids on the bus loved James and gave him the name “Tiny”. He was a devoted and loving father, who enjoyed being with his family. He was a member of Lafayette First Baptist Church.

Besides his wife, he is survived by; sons, James Keith (Priscilla) Tillman of Lafayette, Tenn., Kelley (Betty) Tillman of Cross Plains, Tenn., sisters, Bobbie Jean (Frank) Brawner of Green Grove, Tenn., Patricia Ann “Evitts” McCauley of Lafayette, Tenn., grandchildren, Kim Shelby, Jason Dixon, Cristy Moore, Ashley Tillman, Jamie Tillman, Bryan Austin, Stephen Austin, and Jeff Clark, great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Brandy Tillman, Hayley, Michael, and Josh Moore, Courtney, Brad, Brooks, Fallan, and Samantha Austin, great-great-grandchildren, Braiden Halliburton, Courtney, and Tyler Clark, Cody, and Dylan Dixon.