Obituary of Sonny Tillman

Charles “Sonny” Tillman, age 90, passed away on March 18, 2024 in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. He was born on December 15, 1933 in Donelson, Tennessee to the late Tinsley and Corinne Tillman.

He is survived by his daughters, Vicki Dukes, Terri (David) Minton, and Lisa (Britton) Dotson; grandchildren, Chelsea (Sam) Hearn, Sydney (Alex) Robertson, Nicole (Steve) Zavodnik, Haley (Austin) McKinley, Kendall (Meredith) Richards, Luke Dotson, Cole Dotson, and Ellie Dotson; and great-grandchildren Kylie Taylor, Cameron Hearn, Reid Robertson, Josephine Robertson, and Olivia McKinley.                                                                                                                                                                      
Sonny was a 1953 graduate of Donelson High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Upon graduation, he served in the US Army, and then came home to Nashville to work with his father in the family meat market, T.G. Tillman and Son Meats. During these years, he worked at the meat market every weekday and then focused on family-life and farming in the evenings and on the weekends. His work ethic was unmatched.                                                                                                              
Sonny valued faith and family above all else. He was a member of Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, where he served in various ministries over the years, but particularly loved the Meals on Wheels program, where he delivered meals to people who were homebound. He devoted himself to teaching his daughters to love the Lord. As such, he exhibited a love without limit. He was a father who was always present. If he was needed for anything, he could be found every morning at the kitchen table reading the newspaper, his Bible and drinking a cup of black coffee. In his retirement years, he became lovingly known as Papa. He spent these days enjoying his beautiful farm and his grandchildren. His last few years were spent at Carrick Glen Senior Living and Memory Care where his smile lit up every room. The family is forever thankful for the love and care that the staff at Carrick Glen provided.                                                                                                                                                                                              
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sellars Funeral Home in Mt. Juliet, TN. A private family graveside service will be held on Friday, March 22, 2024. 

                                                                                                
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Mt. Juliet Church of Christ – Meals on Wheels program, 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Rd., Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 or Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, www.disasterreliefeffort.org .