Charles “Chip” Eugene Tiller III

Chip was born February 23, 1953, the son of Charles Eugene Tiller, Jr. and Betty Long Tiller. He was a graduate of Lower Richland High School Class of 1971 and was the starting All State offensive tackle on the 1970 LR State Championship football team. Chip received a college scholarship to play football at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Chip was a professional truck driver and heavy equipment operator and was retired from the State of South Carolina after working with the State Highway, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Departments.

Chip was devoted to his teammates with whom he remained lifelong friends. His best friends, Barney Burnside, Tommy Middlebrooks, David McPherson, and Tommy “Hutto” Utsey, who also played on this team, were devoted to Chip, or as they called him “Killer” for his entire life and cared for and took him to events during the last years of his life when Chip was suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Chip’s other great passion in life was “Tiller Swamp” located in the Congaree Swamp. He hunted, farmed and cared for this land all the days of his life, knowing every oak, cypress, field and gut.

He was in his earlier years a master gardener providing everyone with tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and okra all summer long. He loved the family Sunday lunches that began at this grandmother’s home when he was a child and followed at his mother’s home during most of his adult life, and then at the homes of his sisters where everyone gathered each Sunday to fellowship and spend time together. Chip said the Blessing every Sunday.

Chip was a member of Millaree Hunt Club, a Master Mason at the Lower Richland Lodge #406, and an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for over 40 years.

Chip especially loved his 2 nieces, 2 nephews, and 5 great nephews, granting them each a unique nickname at birth. He was famous for handing out blow pops to the kids and dog biscuits to the pets from his truck.

Chip is survived by his wife of 26 years, Ann; his sisters Emily Burnside and Celeste Jones; his brother-in-law David Burnside; his nieces, Ariail Kirk (Chris) and Julia Foster (Keller); his nephews Blake Burnside (Erin) and William Jones (Justin Shore); and his five great-nephews Durham Kirk, Christopher Kirk, Wells Foster, Rawlins Foster, and David Burnside, III. He is also survived by Ann’s grandchildren Victoria Hyatt (Brent), Nicholas Wright (Emily), Will Wright, Lilly Wright and great-grandchildren Gabriel and Anson Hyatt.

In addition to his parents Chip was predeceased by his grandmother Emmie R. Long, his brother-in-law Bill Jones, and his step-sons Bryan and Jason Wright.

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to Dorothy Mills for her care, support and friendship to Chip in his final years.

An 11:30 a.m. memorial service to celebrate Chip’s life will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025 at Pine Bluff Baptist Church, 1025 Pineview Drive, Columbia, SC 29209, with a luncheon and visitation to follow in the church fellowship hall. Barney Burnside, Tommy Middlebrooks, David McPherson, and Tommy “Hutto” Utsey will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Chip was truly a man with a pure and kind heart. He never judged anyone, never had a single enemy in the world, and was beloved by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to made to the “Mill Creek Cemetery Fund”, 1579 Woodlake Drive, Columbia, SC 29206.