CHARLOTTE

The Rev. Benjamin Franklin Tillman Sr., 42, died Feb. 3, 2009 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Funeral services were held Feb. 8 at 1:30 p.m. at Smith's Memorial Chapel with Pastor Cindy Wiggins officiating. Interment followed at Westview Memorial Park.

He was born Feb. 28, 1966 to the late Jasper and Ernestine Tillman. Tillman graduated in 1984 from Bowman High School.

He was employed by Coffing Hoists, Inc. as an assembly supervisor. He was also ordained to preach the gospel and used his ministry to encourage others doing the same.

He loved his family, who knew they could depend on him.

Tillman worked with the 4-H youth promise of Anson, HOLLA!, the Anson Challenge Academy, Yokefellows Prison Ministry, Lillie Bennett Nursing Home and was a representative of the Morven PTO. He also owned BenBen Productions Photography and Video.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Pratt Tillman; daughters, Sherelle (Ronnie) of Monroe and Lucretia and Krystal, both of the home; son, Benjamin Jr., of the home; sisters, Christine Tillman and Priscilla (Tony) Purcell of Wadesboro and Lou Tillman of Eldersburg, Md.; brothers, Jasper Tillman Jr. of Wadesboro, James (Wendy) Tillman of Charlotte, Martin (Marsha) Tillman of Wingate, Rodney (Pamela) Tillman of Waxhaw and Gregory (Darlene) Tillman of Asheboro; mother-in-law, Marie Pratt of Morven; sisters-in-law, Gwen (Perry) Bennett of Ansonville, Reatha (Herbert) Winchester of Ocean Springs, Miss., Precellia (Harland) Moses of Rockingham; Patricia (Shelton) Blakney of Morven and Eugenia Hinson of Charlotte; brother-in-law, Curtis (Cynthia) Pratt of Morven; and a host of other relatives and friends.