Jesse Melvin Tillman Jr.

Jesse Melvin Tillman, Jr. died on September 18, 2015 in hospice care at Carillon Assisted Living Center. A native of Durham, he was the only son of Jesse Melvin Tillman, Sr. and Susie Mae Lipscomb Tillman. He was a graduate of Durham High School and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A long time member and leader within Durham?s business and civic community, he was as Elder of Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church; a president of Guaranty State Bank, Scottish Savings and Loan, and the Tobaccoland Kiwanis Club; and a real estate broker with Frank Ward Realtors.Melvin Tillman loved his family, Durham, golf, his North Carolina Tar Heels, and his nation. He enjoyed spending time with and being a part of the lives of his many grandchildren whom he dearly loved. As a director within Durham?s Department of Recreation he assisted and trained many of Durham?s youth. As a member of Croasdaile Country Club he participated in the club?s early development and operations. As a proud member of the Educational Foundation, he endowed two womens? golf scholarships at the University. As a U.S. Coast Guardsman, he served on board U.S.C.G.C. Eastwind as a part of her historic missions above the Arctic Circle.Mr. Tillman is predeceased by his wife Janet Brooks Kirkland Tillman. He is survived by his wife Merita Mae Vaughan Tillman; his daughter, Janet Sue Tillman; and his three sons, their wives and children: Jesse Melvin Tillman, III, Carolyn, James, and Joshua; Jeffrey Kirkland Tillman, Janis, Jacob, and Julia; and Joseph Laurance Tillman, Dana, Jessica, Ryan, and Addison.A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Maplewood Cemetery.In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to Duke HomeCare and Hospice and/or Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church.