Brince "B.T" Tillis Jr.'s Obituary
Mr. Brince T. “B. T.” Tillis, Jr., 86, longtime resident of Alachua County, died Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in the Riverwood Nursing Home, Starke, following a brief illness.
Mr. Tillis was a native of Gainesville, Florida, born July 17, 1930 to the late Brince T., Sr. and Mary Lou Tillis. He graduated from P. K. Yonge High School, and soon after joined the U. S. Army, having served in the Korean War, and serving for 39 years and 11 months; retiring as an E-9, Sargent Major. B. T. had a long career with the Florida Department of Transportation, working as a mine inspector for over 30 years until his retirement. Mr. Tillis was a deacon and longtime member of The Church at Orange Heights. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Mary E. Tillis in 2014.
Survivors include; two daughters, Roberta J. (Robert) Clarke, of Hampton, and Katherine A. Modisette, of Earleton; one son, Terry (Renee) Harp, of Keystone Heights; one brother, Joe S. Tillis, of Lake City; two sisters, Ruby M. Bryant and Mary L. Stevens, both of Jacksonville; a sister-in-law, Jewel Tillis of Lakeland; three grandchildren, Brince D. (Hayden) Wade, of St. Augustine, Shawn (Ruth) Modisette, of Hawaii, and Timothy Modisette, of Gainesville; four great grandchildren, Caitlin Chelsea Wade, of St. Augustine, Brince M. (Amber) Wade, of Earleton, Christopher A. Wells, of Hawthorne and Avery Modisette, of Hawaii.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 10:00 A. M., in the Church at Orange Heights, 16700 NE SR 26, Hawthorne. Interment with military honors will follow in Saluda Cemetery.
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