Obituary for Ames Brothers Tillar
Tillar, Ames Brothers, 73, passed away on September 6th, 2023, after a short battle with cancer.
She was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband, David, of 54 years; her parents
Lyman and Sudie Brothers; and her sister, Margaret Slate. She is survived by her three
sons: David B. Tillar, Jr. (Christy) of Gulf Breeze, Florida, W. Riddick Tillar (Lillie) of Virginia
Beach, Addison D. Tillar (April) of Richmond, and eight grandchildren: Virginia Ames, Mason,
Michael, Anna, Claudia, Ben, Emily, and Lane; one brother Dr. L. R. Brothers (Jane) of Sedona,
Arizona; two brothers-in-law Colonel (retired) Donaldson P. Tillar Jr. (Hazel) of Williamsburg, Dr.
W. T. Tillar III of Emporia; and a host of loving and devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, and
friends. Ames grew up in Emporia and graduated from the College of Great Falls,
Montana. Following Dave’s Air Force service, they returned home to Emporia and raised their
family. Ames loved her hometown friends, extended family, and adored her eight grandchildren.
She enjoyed hosting everyone at Lake Gaston and the Outer Banks. Ames enjoyed traveling
with Dave and was very active in the local community. She taught upper school at Brunswick
Academy and later worked at their family furniture business (Southern Furniture Company).
Ames was a member of the Emporia Book Club, the Emporia Junior Women’s Club, the
Hicksford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Society of Colonial
Dames of America, Meherrin River Arts Council, and a devoted life-long member of First
Presbyterian Church of Emporia. Always loving and caring to her friends and family, she was an
especially amazing caregiver to Dave in his later years. The family would like to thank her
friends and neighbors for their loving support over the past few weeks and her caregivers: her
devoted brother and sister-in-law Dr. and Mrs. L. R. Brothers, her nephew, Will Slate (Katie),
nieces Kathy Tillar-Hughes and Leavelle Tillar, Dee Beal, and Hattie Lee. A private funeral
service will be held in Emporia on Monday, September 11th, 2023, followed by a graveside
ceremony at the Emporia Cemetery. Following the graveside service, all friends and family are
invited to join the family at 1:00 PM for a reception to honor Ames’ life at the Bank Restaurant,
401 S. Main St, Emporia, Virginia 23847. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First
Presbyterian Church, 210 S. Main Street Emporia, Virginia 23847.
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