Cornelia Stuyvesant (Cate) Tillman passed away Monday, October 26, 2026 at Baptist Health Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky after a brief illness. Born July 27, 1929 in Knoxville, Tennessee, she attended Sullins College in Virginia and then obtained her B.S. and M.S. from the University of Tennessee. She was a Home Agent, and later a secretary at the University, but most of all, she was a loving wife and mother.
Cornelia was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Tillman Jr. and her brother, Blake Jackson Cate. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah Tillman, Pamela Phillips (Tom), and Catherine Ledl (Bryan); grandchildren, Justin Grey (Kristina), Caroline Smith (Caleb), Delaney Wisor (Ricky), and Nick Mize (Sarah); great grandchildren, Wyatt and Weston Smith, Anderson and Hollis Wisor, and Elodie and Vivienne Mize.
Nothing was more important to her than her family, and the skills and values she imparted will live on through her children and theirs.
The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 6, 2026 at Berry Highland Memorial with a celebration of life to follow at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Sierra Club.
