Trevor James Lillian

Trevor James Lillian, 27, a resident of Hartsville, SC, passed away at his home in the early morning hours of December 8, 2022. Trevor was born June 28, 1995, to Scott and Cathy (Fillmore) Lillian, in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Twenty-four hours after birth, Trevor started having seizures and was transferred to the Children's Hospital in Albany, NY, spending 3 weeks in the NICU. This began a life-long, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming journey for Trevor and his family. At eight months, Trevor began Early Intervention in the home 5 days a week. This included speech and physical therapy and time with an education specialist. Trevor had the opportunity to attend multiple schools in several states in his early years, exposing him to some amazing special-education teachers. He attended schools in Washington State, Utah, California, Idaho and eventually graduated high school in 2014 from Bellefonte Area High School, in Pennsylvania. At that time, he and his family moved to Hartsville.

Starting in 2015, Trevor attended a workforce education program with the SC Vocational Rehabilitation program. This provided several "try-its" where he would work at a local business for about 6 weeks. Trevor would routinely come home with interesting stories from his time at work. Once, during a "try it" at the local Piggly Wiggly grocery store, his supervisor asked if he knew how to bag groceries. Trevor said he did. "Well," his mom asked later, "how DO you bag groceries?" Trevor replied, "you just stuff as much in the bag as you can." (Apologies to any of those Piggly Wiggly customers.)

Even though Trevor endured a lifetime of medical challenges, Ulcerative Colitis was the hardest for him to experience. This led to two bouts of Lymphoma, the last of which took him too soon.

Having a special relationship with food, Trevor preferred Wegman's brand black pepper with his Chef Boyardee Spaghetti; Hidden Valley Ranch dressing with his pizza; Trader Joe's Cocoa Batons between his fingers; and, when he felt particularly indulgent, a can of Vienna (which he insisted was pronounced vi-EN-yah) sausages a la carte.

Trevor was never far from his iPad, giving him access to a world of imagination and a way to connect with people in ways that were otherwise impossible. Life hack: you may be able to save an iPad that was dropped into the tub by soaking it in rice.

Being an active list-maker, Trevor built a wide array of collections. This started at an early age, including Happy Meal toys, Chevron Cars, Pokemon cards, Legos, etc. His desire to collect led him to lift one of the dwarves from Snow White off a fellow first grader's backpack. This helped us teach him about boundaries.

Always someone who made you feel better just by being near him, sitting with Trevor while he watched his favorite shows was always a treat: he bonded with the characters to a degree that he literally laughed, cried, and hollered right alongside. His friend Quincy said when they would watch a Marvel show together and something did not make sense, he would get a message later (sometimes at 1am) where Trevor had dug up the answer. Yes, he was that diligent.

Trevor leaves behind his heartbroken parents; grandparents: Ken Fillmore and Sharon Fillmore (Idaho Falls, ID), and Jim & Cody Lillian (Sequim, WA); sisters: Tarryn (Caleb) Duff and Teagan Lillian (Columbia, SC); a brother: Tyson Lillian (Hartsville); nieces: Schuyler & Lillian ("Lily") Duff; dogs: Wynston & Beaux; and numerous adoring aunts, uncles, and cousins. Trevor has joined his uncle, Bryan Berrett Fillmore (Idaho Falls, ID), who passed in 1994.

To learn more about how Trevor inspired compassion in others and made the best out of any situation, please join us as we pause to remember him on January 8, 2023. Due to Trevor's touching so many lives with people across the globe, and to include as many people as possible, this will be done virtually. More information can be found at Trevor's memorial page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509934936148104, or by emailing cathy.lillian@gmail.com.