Sybil Tillman

Sybil was born on September 15th, 1932 in South Boston, Virginia to Howard and Margaret Stephens. She moved to Hampton at an early age. She met, fell in love and married Edward Lewis Tillman in 1950 and was married for 67 years. She is predeceased by her husband Lewis "Louie" Tillman in 2018 and her brother Ronnie Stephens. She is survived by her sisters Cheryl Brown and Patty Swears (Donald); her brothers Lynn Brown (Arlene) and Sonny Stephens; her sister-in-law Judy Frye (Gerald); her three children; Karen T Cox (David), Del Tillman, and Deneen Brown; 7 grandchildren; Heather (Stuart) Royall, Nathan (Dana) Roady, Daniel (Michelle) Roady, Matthew (Britainie) Roady, Kimberly Roady, Erin Brown, Kaelan Brown and 9 great-grandchildren whom she was blessed to have.

Anyone meeting Sybil knew that she was a strong woman of faith. To know Sybil was to love her. She was the epitome of love and Grace! Sybil authored a workbook, “Life’s Challenge for Women” which positively impacted women of all ages for decades. She was an amazing teacher, and taught classes at Bethel Temple Church in Hampton for 15 years. She also shared this message at surrounding churches in the Tidewater area. She was asked to travel to London and share this book, and she taught it at Regent University. Because of her many efforts to feed into the spiritual lives of so many women, she received an honorary Doctorate from the Bethel Bible Institute. Sybil was very active at Bethel Temple Church for decades where she served in many capacities. She was a Sunday school teacher, the secretary of two pastors, a servant to the women’s ministry program and a mentor to many women who were in need of a mother’s love.

She had a great secretarial career working for Phillips at Newport News Shipbuilding, the Army Recruiting Command, the Air Force Tactical Air Command and Bethel Temple Church. She received many awards when she worked for the Army Recruiting Command and the Air Force Tactical Air Command.

Sybil suffered from Dementia, and was admitted to the Conway Manor Nursing Home in December of 2018. In keeping with her calling, however, she was an inspiration to the nurses, aides, caregivers and patients. As Karen said, “Mom brought spiritual life to the nurses, and they brought physical life to her”. Sybil loved it there! In the morning hours of November 4th, her favorite nurse and caregiver, Larissa, held her hand as she peacefully drew her last breath.