Cecil Tillman Oliver, Jr.

Born to Cecil T. Oliver, Sr. and Edna Sullivan Oliver in Aiken, SC on December 6, 1940, he shared his birthday with his dad. Cecil joined the Navy in January 1961. He proudly served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge (CV-33) in Southeast Asia where he earned the Vietnam Service Medal. Cecil loved to share stories of how he met two astronauts as his ship was the recovery ship in 1962 and again in 1963 for the Project Mercury space program and pulled two of the space capsules from the waters of the Pacific after their splashdowns. He also had the pleasure of meeting his movie hero, John Wayne, while aboard the Kearsarge.

After getting out of the military in December of 1965, he returned home and eventually went to work for Citi Corp. Cecil retired from Citi Corp and then started to follow his passions of all things cars. He started his first company, a car detail shop called Car Spa LTD, with one wrecker. He then expanded it to a mechanics shop and body shop. As the wrecker side grew, he eventually started “Tillman Towing” where he was one of the largest towing services in the area.

Cecil’s greatest passions in life were drag racing and Clemson University. He raced his 1955 Chevy BelAir for many years before graduating to his Top Dragster. Cecil raced tracks from Ohio to Florida, but his favorites were Rockingham and Darlington. His Pit Crew, Ken Nelson, Sr. "Doc" and Beverly James, were always there supporting him.

While Cecil never went to college, he was the biggest Clemson fan around. He always proudly wore his orange and never missed watching his Clemson Tigers play football whether at the stadium or on TV. He was at the 1981 Championship game and loved that his daughter, Morgan, was at the 2018 Championship game marching with the Clemson University Tiger Band.

Always at his side the past 10 years was his beloved dog, Tillman. Cecil had always been a cat guy until his great big chocolate Lab entered his life. We know that Tillman, along with his cat Gizzmo, were waiting for Cecil on the other side.

Cecil was preceded in death by his parents. Surviving is his companion of many years, Beth Kafont of West Columbia, SC; his sister, Betty (Sammy) Pierce of Port St. Lucie, FL; two daughters, Stacy (Shane) Bryant of Lincolnton, GA and Morgan Oliver of Clemson, SC; three grandchildren, Hannah (Garret) Reed of Lincolnton, GA, Jackson Bryant of Lincolnton, GA, and Christopher (Nicole) Edenfield of Swansea, SC; his great-granddaughter, Rylee Blaire Reed of Lincolnton, GA; three great grandsons, Chancellor Edenfield, Colton Edenfield, and Chase Edenfield of Swansea; along with many nieces and nephews.

Cecil will be laid to rest at Fort Jackson National Cemetery. The service will take place at the cemetery on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 2:00 pm. The towing community will meet at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, SC at noon to escort Cecil to the cemetery. Everyone is invited to a celebration of Cecil’s life afterwards at Beth’s home, 252 Lookout Point Road, West Columbia, SC 29172.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Oliver family.