Fannie Tillery Butler

1928 - 2021

The act of service is one of the most beautiful attributes of life. Truly this act was a guiding principle in the life of Mrs. Fannie Tillery Butler, a wife, a mother, a sister, a teacher, and a community worker. She served with dedication and great love for children and others for over 60 years. Born ninety-two years ago on October 26, 1928, Fannie Tillery Butler was the seventh of ten children born to John and Parmilla Tillery. She peacefully transitioned to heaven on February 11, 2021 to unite with her parents John Randolph Tillery and Parmilla Gaskill Tillery (parents), David W. Butler, Sr. (husband), David W. Butler, Jr. (son), Parker Leigh McDonald, Richella Walker, Mary Boyd, Jessie Mae Savage (sisters), Herbert Tillery, Sr., John Westly Tillery (brothers), and other relatives and loved ones. A native of Morehead City, NC, Fannie was educated in Carteret County Schools. She was a graduate of Queen Street High School, Beaufort, NC. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Livingstone College and did additional studies at A & T College (NC A&T SU). In 1999, she was honored as a Golden Graduate of Livingstone College and also was a former Alumni Queen. She played basketball in both high school and college. While in college, she met the man who would steal her heart for a lifetime, David Butler, Sr. of Salisbury, N. C. Their love bloomed, and in 1948 they were married while still in college. Fannie jokingly shared that she went to college to get her BS and her Mrs. – and she got both. The loving couple enjoyed 44 years of wedded bliss before Dave passed away in 1994. Their loving reunion produced two children, David, Jr. who passed in 1997 and Cynthia Butler King of Charlotte, NC. After leaving Livingstone College with her degree in hand, Fannie touched the lives of many young people. She accepted her first teaching position at Ann Chestnut High School in Fayetteville, NC. She returned to Salisbury by accepting the position as the Director of Miller Recreation Center. Teaching was Fannie's passion and calling so she left Miller Recreation Center and returned to the teaching field working at Logan High School in Concord, NC. Due to integration, Fannie transferred to Central Cabarrus High School also in Concord. Her distinguished resume includes providing instruction at Price High School and again integration transferred her to Salisbury High School where she retired in 1989 after 38 years of shaping and challenging young minds in mathematics. Her advice to the youth was “Be motivated to achieve, realizing the only place “Success” comes before “Work” is in the dictionary! At an early age, Fannie felt her spiritual calling as she joined St. Stephen AME Zion Church at the age of 6. After moving to Salisbury, she joined the Butler's Family church, Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. As a servant of God, she was a member of the Senior Choir, Youth Missionary Society, the Nursing Board, Faithful Worker's Missionaries, and the Deaconess Board, where she served as Chairperson for over fifteen years. For her dedicated efforts and genuine caring nature, Fannie was honored as “Mother of the Year”. In 2009, Fannie felt a call to return to her AME Zion roots therefore, she joined Moore's Chapel AME Zion Church. Among Fannie's attributes of a life of service is her community involvement which is extensive and well documented as a catalyst for progress. She was always full of life and passionate about her civic and social endeavors. She is a Life Member of the Salisbury Chapter of the NAACP, Life Member in Livingstone College National Alumni Association, member of the Livingstone Golden Anniversary Club, Salisbury Red Hat Society, J.C. Price American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 107, West End Community Organization (WECO) which she was a founding member over 55 years ago, and until her passing served as president, Habitat For Humanity Homeowners Committee, Salisbury City Council Beautification Committee, and Life Matron of Home Mission of the AME Zion Church. Additionally, she received the Rowan Iredell Credit Union Dedicated Service Membership Longevity Award, received Elizabeth Duncan Koontz Humanitarian Award and is the recipient of the City of Salisbury “Our Community Appreciation Award”. The list of service goes on and on. When asked what keeps you motivated, Fannie responds, “The desire to do for others”. Fannie enjoyed collecting angels, black Santa's and lighthouses; items that had special memories in her life. She also enjoyed playing pinochle with friends on Mondays and once a month on Thursday, playing pinochle with the Dragon/Dragonets Social Club, playing solitaire on the computer, having fun at the “internet café” and especially loved traveling. For those who knew her, she always had a joke and a deep belief which she phrased as “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. You would also hear her express her joys by saying “Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful”. May her love and faith be a mirrored for her daughter, Cynthia Butler King (Darryl) of Charlotte, NC; daughter in law, Dr. April Butler-McConneaughey (Jean) of Charlotte, NC; one God-Son, Terrence Jones of Columbia, SC;, four grandchildren, Shayla King Paylor (Rodney) of Charlotte, NC; Candance Butler of Hickory, NC; Keya King of Midlothian, Virginia; David Joseph Butler of Charlotte, NC; three great grandchildren, Courtney Paylor, Jaya Brewington, and Raelynn Paylor of Charlotte, NC; one sister, Althea Becton (John) of Havelock, NC; two brothers, Fredrick Tillery of Morehead City, NC; Winifred Tillery (Lynette) of Raleigh, NC and many other nieces, nephews, and other relatives and close friends who she loved dearly. Arrangements: Public Viewing will be held on Sunday, February 21, 2021 from 1pm-5pm at the A. R. Kelsey Memorial Chapel, Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc. Due to COVID-19 precautions, the family will have a private service that will be publicly extended at 1pm on Monday, February 22, 2021 via Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc Website (nobleandkelsey.com) Memorial: In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Mrs. Fannie T. Butler Scholarship Fund. Checks may be made in the name Mrs. Fannie. T. Butler Scholarship Fund and mailed to 4311 Schoolhouse Commons, Suite 101, Harrisburg, NC 28075. Noble and Kelsey Funeral Home, Inc. is assisting the Butler Family. Online condolences may be sent to nobleandkelsey.com.