January 3, 1930 – February 26, 2024
CW2 (Ret.) Raleigh Max Tillman, Sr. passed away February 26, 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida. Services for Mr. Tillman will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pine Grove Baptist Church, 4103 Bay Rockyford Road, Moultrie, Georgia 31768. The Rev. Stanley Norman will officiate. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors. Garrett Tillman, Patrick Tillman, Adam Ferrell, Billy Gabor, Brad Sherman, Mason Tillman, Austin Dawkins, and Trey Collins will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at the Cadwell Chapel of Cox-Ivey Funeral Home, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m, Friday evening.
Raleigh Max Tillman was born January 3, 1930, in Moultrie, Georgia, to Marion Joseph Tillman, Sr. and Rosa Lee Harvey Tillman. He grew up in a farming family in Colquitt County, Georgia. They were a family that all played music together. At 15 years of age, Max left high school and moved to South Florida. He picked oranges during the day and played the fiddle for square dances at night. Needing a change from picking oranges, Max joined the United States Army. He served his country proudly in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. In 1952 Max married Margaret Anita Matta. He and Margaret raised four children and moved from Alabama to Alaska and back plus all over the world. Max made friends in music circles and played his fiddle in all sorts of venues. He was invited to play in Australia for their Sesquicentennial celebration and performed country and bluegrass in Sasebo, Japan. Max was a Master Mason and member of Thomasville Masonic Lodge #369 for 69 years. He retired from the Army after 23 years of service and joined his brothers at Tillman Brothers meat Packing Company in Bainbridge, Georgia.
Max dearly loved his family and continued to enjoy playing music. He will be deeply missed by his family and many, many friends.
Raleigh Max Tillman, Sr. is survived by his children, Max Tillman (Karen) of Donalsonville, Georgia, Pat Tillman (Becky) of Ochlocknee. Georgia, Raleigh Tillman, Jr. (Melanie) of Alabama, and Lita Stone of Tallahassee, Florida; step-daughter, Rashley Sab (Kirby de la Pieda); sister, Willie Dora Tillman Bates; grandchildren, April Tillman Gabor (Billy), Patrick Tillman (Aimee), Garrett Tillman, (Torie), Melissa Farrell (Adam), Tori Sherman (Brad), Laura Lee Stone (Trey), Madison Tillman, Mason Tillman (Sari), Morgan Dawkins (Austin); step-grandchildren, Ridd de la Pieda and Alli de la Pieda; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Margaret Matta Tillman and Lilibeth (Beechi) Sab; and his siblings, Bernice Tillman Southerland, William Henry Tillman, Theron Harding Tillman, Marion Joseph Tillman, Jr., Homer Lee Tillman, and Earl Marvin Tillman.
Online condolences may be sent at www.Coxfuneral.net. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
