Sheldon Tillman

Mr. Sheldon Willie Tillman, Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, and Friend, passed away on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. He was born on May 19, 1962, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Elijah Sr. and Lutitia Tillman, the youngest of seven children. Sheldon accepted Jesus and was baptized at an early age.

Sheldon, a loyal Saginaw High School Trojan and Class President, graduated with the Class of 1980. He was a mathematical genius. After graduating, Sheldon attended Ferris State University and served ten years in the United States Army (1983 – 1993) including Desert Storm. He traveled all around the world and lived in many different countries. Sheldon held various positions of employment. He loved sports, dancing, cooking, and giving his nieces and nephews pillow action, in other words, pillow fights. Sheldon’s many friends in the United States and abroad will attest that Sheldon was the proverbial life of the party. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and his dog, Zeus.

Those to whom Sheldon leaves loving memories include his devoted wife, Cynthia Tillman; three daughters and five sons: Shontell Tillman, Saginaw, Michigan, Sherika Tillman, Luetisha Clark-Tillman, Deon and Tamika Reed, Jammar and Charles Bates,Timothy, and Malike Tillman, of Germany; two stepchildren, Terrance and Felicia Reed, Littleton, Colorado, and DeQuavius Brookins, Saginaw, Michigan; grandchildren: Se Kani, Deonta Reed, Deon Jr., Kamarri and Jamarr Jr. Bates, Charles Jr, Christian Bates, Sunn-dai, Jermany, September, Itali Clark, Ingland Pickett, Israel Elzy, Irelynd Singletary, Corrion, Chance, CamRon, and Melchicedek Bates; one sister, Delphine Martin, Lancaster, Texas; nieces, Sparkle, Elisha, Pasonica, Marcy and Sharnell Tillman, Jasmine Tinsley, and Andrea Williams; nephews, Michael Martin, Howard Jr., Erskine and Dominique Davis, Elisha III, Royale, Jayson, Desmond, and Jack Tillman, Demarco Harper, and Jamar York; two cousins, Alice Smith and Minnie Caldwell; special friends, Al Smith, Jennifer Bates and Olivia Kincaid (mothers of his children), Coach Marshall Thomas, Leonard Thomas, and Kenneth Haynes.

Sheldon was preceded in death by his parents, Elijah and Lutitia Tillman; his grandparents; brothers, Roy Tillman, Elijah Tillman Jr, Jack Dempsey Tillman, Raymond Boose, and Howard Davis; and nephews, Selester Tillman and Jermaine York.

The family would like to give special thanks to the Staff at Covenant HealthCare Cooper ICU, Cynthia’s co-workers at Success Academy, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff at Paradise Funeral Chapel.