Betty Long Tiller

LOWER RICHLAND - Betty Long Tiller, 85, of Lower Richland, SC, died March 17, 2016, in Columbia, SC. Born on August 10, 1930, to the late Franklin Long and late Emmie Rawlinson Long, Betty was a lifelong resident of Lower Richland, living and working within a mile of Lower Richland High School (LRHS). She attended Lykesland Grammar School and then graduated from LRHS in 1946. She continued her education at Winthrop College, where she received her BS degree in Physical Education. Upon graduation from Winthrop in 1950, Betty taught briefly at Dutch Fork School before returning to LRHS. Betty remained at LRHS for 30 years, where she taught both science and P.E., coached the basketball team to a conference championship and sponsored the cheerleading squad. The majority of those years, however, she served as the Vice Principal for Attendance and Discipline, a role she undertook with pride and zeal. Nothing got past “Killer Tiller”; she knew every student by name and carried a walkie-talkie and whistle through the halls to ensure order. Betty demanded honesty, integrity, attendance and effort, but did so with encouragement and understanding. She was and always will be a Diamond Hornet. She was a vocal football aficionado, and followed the Clemson Tigers and Citadel Bulldogs her entire life. She particularly enjoyed this past season, in which the Bulldogs beat the Gamecocks for only the third time in her life and Clemson went undefeated during the regular season to win the ACC title. Betty was married to Charles Eugene “Gene” Tiller, Jr. for 42 years, until his death in 1994. Her dearest friends were her sister-in-spirit, the late Ada Howell, her late sister-in-law, Sarah Tiller Thomas, with whom Betty shared an 80-year friendship, and Margaret Tuttle, with whom she traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, in search of adventure, history lessons and, most importantly, the world’s best casinos. After her retirement from teaching, she began her second career as full-time grandmother and great grandmother in charge of schedules, fun, after school pick-ups and fabulous treats. She attended all school functions and sporting events and was widely and affectionately known by all as “Betty Doll.” She is survived by her three children, Charles Eugene “Chip” Tiller, III (Ann), Emily Burnside (David) and Celeste Jones (Bill), all of Hopkins, SC; four grandchildren, Ariail B. Kirk (Chris) of Hopkins, SC; Blake Burnside (Erin) of Columbia, SC; Julia J. Foster (Keller) of Spartanburg, SC and William Jones, Jr. of Charlotte, NC; and four great-grandchildren, Charles Durham Kirk, Christopher Blanton Kirk, William Cogswell Foster and John Rawlinson Foster. She was also predeceased by a sister, Mary Amason, brother, Bo Long, and many lifelong friends. The family will receive friends at the Kirk’s home on Sunday, March 20, 2016, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., at 7071 Bluff Road in Hopkins. A funeral service for Betty will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mill Creek Cemetery Fund, 7027 Fairmont Drive, Columbia, SC 29209.