Dr. Tillotson

Dr. John Howard Tillotson, 78, of Spartanburg, died Sunday, January 16, 2011 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home. Born, July 8, 1932 in Spartanburg, he was the son of the late Howard Fitzgerald and Bernice Cole Tillotson and was reared and adopted by his uncle and aunt, the late Lawson Olander and Georgia Parks Tillotson. He was first married to the late Shirley Mitchem Tillotson. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of East Spartanburg Rotary Club, serving as President and a member of the Evening Optimist Club. Dr. Tillotson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wofford in 1951, at the age of 18, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society. He was active in all Wofford College Alumni activities as Wofford was one of his favorite places on earth. He served on several Alumni Boards, was a member of the President's Club, and an avid supporter of academics and athletics. Dr. Tillotson received The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award from Wofford College and was the Honored Administrator from the South Carolina Music Educators Association Hall of Fame. He received his Masters degree from UNC (Chapel Hill), and his PhD from University of South Carolina. His career spanned nearly four decades beginning as a Math teacher at Cowpens High School, Fairforest High School, and teaching classes through USC while working on his PhD. He served as Principal at Woodland Heights Elementary, Director of Instruction for Spartanburg District #6; he was Director of the South Carolina Region 4 which consisted of six counties implementing the Title 3 Elementary and Secondary Education Act. He joined Spartanburg District #7 Schools in 1971 and served in a number of positions within the District #7 office. He served as Superintendent of District #7 Schools from August 1988 until his retirement in 1992. During his retirement he taught several summer classes at Wofford College and supervised Student Teachers at USC-Upstate and Wofford. Survivors include his wife Fran King Henderson Tillotson; a daughter, Dr. Patricia Tillotson Sanders-Reid and her husband William Steven Reid of Easley, SC; a son, Daniel Howard Tillotson and his wife Deborah of Washington Crossing, PA; three grandchildren, Maggie Sanders Lewis, Evan Charles Sanders, and Ian Howard Tillotson; a step-daughter, Melodie R. Henderson of Pawleys Island, SC; a sister Laura Elizabeth Tillotson Towe of Spartanburg; and two brothers, Albert Wilson Tillotson and Everett Bernard Tillotson both of Spartanburg. He was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Rufus Tillotson. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home Staff for all their loving care and attention. Visitation will be 5:00-8:00 PM Thursday, January 20, 2011 at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, January 21, 2011 at Central United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Luther H. Rickenbaker III, the Rev. Dr. Kirk H. Neely and a eulogy will be offered by Mr. Tommy Stokes. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens Heritage Chapel Mausoleum. Pallbearers will be Charles Ragin, Jim Littlefield, Robert Sellars, Ed Story, Charles Gray, Keith Parris, Fred Herren, and Don Hendrix. Honorary Escorts will be Joe Clark, Frank Allen, Danny Falatok, Spartanburg School District #7 and other Spartanburg County Schools Administrators and staff, and Central United Methodist Church and St. James United Methodist Church Upper Room Sunday School Classes. Memorials may be made to Central United Methodist Church Building Fund, 233 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306; or Morningside Baptist Church Building Fund, 897 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302; or Wofford College Class of 1951 Scholarship Fund, 429 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303; or to a charity of one's choice. The family is at the home. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dr. John Howard Tillotson please visit our Sympathy Store.