Mary Louise Tillman

Mary Louise Tillman, age 71, of Palm Coast, Florida, passed away on the evening of 12/19/24 in Georgia near her daughters home after a brave battle with cancer. 

Mary Lou was born 07/22/1953 to H. John Huniford and Ann Huniford (Ketcham) in Syracuse, New York. After graduating from St. John the Baptist, she attended Morrisville College where she obtained her nursing degree. She married her soulmate James T. Tillman III in 1973. They enjoyed many years living in Cicero, New York. In 1993 they moved to Franklin, Tennessee when Jim was transferred from the Syracuse General Motors plant to the new and exciting Spring Hill, Tennessee Saturn plant. In Franklin, she became one of the first Williamson County school nurses and enjoyed her work as “Nurse Mary” touching the lives of thousands of school children in middle Tennessee for over 20 years to follow. 

The highlight of her life was her children and grandchildren. She was thrilled to move to Dawsonville, Georgia upon retiring, in 2013. She spent many years fulfilling her full time job as “Mimi” helping to raise her four grandchildren; Matthew, Madelyn, Maddox, and Tucker. The school nurse to her grandchildren in Georgia was known to say she knew to call Mimi Tillman when someone was sick at school because she knew that was who would be coming to pick the kids up! 

No matter where she lived, one thing always remained constant. Mary Lou returned to her family’s “camp” on the St. Lawrence River in Alexandria Bay, New York every summer. She enjoyed her time there gardening, boating, and spending time with her extended family. 

Mary Lou was predeceased by her mother and father; sister, Patricia (Arthur) Cafarelli of Columbus, OH; two brothers, J. Matthew Huniford and Thomas (Susan) Huniford; and her beloved “Aunt Betty”, Elizabeth Huniford. She is survived by her husband Jim Tillman of Palm Coast, Florida; brother, James Huniford of Manhattan, New York; son, Daniel J. Tillman, of Palm Coast, Florida; daughter, Jennifer (Nathan) Stone of Cumming, GA; Grandchildren, Matthew (Alyssa), Madelyn, James-Maddox, and Nathan Tucker Stone of Cumming, GA; Great-Grandchild, Adalyne Stone; and sister in-law Janet (Sam) D’Amico of Cicero, New York. She was known as “Aunt Lou” and loved dearly by her surviving nieces and nephews, Michael (Michelle), Brian (Joan), and Richard D’Amico; Michael, Robert (Meagan), Matthew (Alicia) Cafarelli; Lauren, Kyle, Jack and Ava Huniford.

A visitation will be held Friday December 27th from 7-9pm at Ingram funeral home in Cumming, GA (210 Ingram Ave Cumming, GA 30040). A funeral Mass will be held Saturday December 28th at 12pm at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jasper, GA (1908 Waleska Highway 108 Jasper, GA 30143) with a burial to follow at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Jasper, GA (1440 West Church St. Jasper, GA 30143).