Marcia,
You were a fantastic nurse  with a big heart and winning smile. God has met you with open arms. I worked with her through Montefiore/Rikers health services. Rest in peace your assignment on earth is complete.
Joanna White.

My condolences  to the family . Ms Tillery was a great , strong and helpful woman  she helped me alot at work with some of these guys that  I had to  produce  to the west. And help to get  the doc on board.. thank you Queen going to miss you . C/O Mccray is going to miss you so much  Queen Rest In Power 🙏 🙏

Its hard for me to write this because I still cant believe you are not here. I remember when you first came to rndc and you was on the phone talking trash saying how you wasn't gonna talk to nobody here and keep to yourself. Years later and we couldn't pull you off of the stretcher paper in the treatment room, LOL. I always looked at you as a second mom to me. I remember talking to you in the middle of the night about anything and you were always there for me. You understood my struggles from being a young mother and made me not be ashamed of that. You always made me laugh  talking about the old  hood days.  I  remember  texting you at 3am one night and telling you how much you meant to me. You cursed me out saying how I had you crying and Gemini's don't cry easily, lol. You are the realest person that God has put in my life and you will always have a special place in my heart. As I last saw you in that bed, I held your hand and told you how much I loved you and I believed  that you heard me. Until we meet again you are gone away from me but never forgotten. Sleep In Eternal Peace Mother T,                                                               Love Always Nikia

My sincere condolences go to the family for this tremendous loss. She will be truly missed. I was a clinic officer in OBCC, and I worked with Mrs. Tillery.  She was one of the best nurses. I loved working with her. She was most definitely a fire cracker. We had many many laughs and good times working together. I am so thankful that I got an opportunity to know her. SIP Mrs. Tillery.

My Deepest Condolences to the Family❤️

I  just want to  say, There is absolutely No one in the world like Tillery. I am going to Deeply miss you Till.😢YOU WERE ONE OF A KIND. I met you in RNDC and we instantly connected. You were an Amazing woman. We talked about so many things and you inspired me to believe there is  nothing that can not be accomplished. You have not left me with sadness because I can just imagine you up in heaven and that makes me smile knowing you. LOVE YOU FRIEND ❤️ UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN. 

Love Dunbar❤️

I am soooooo lost for words. I met  Ms. Tillery when I first started in 2015. She was so welcoming and she didn’t play no games but never meant no harm. Ms. Tillery was such an amazing strong woman. I’m still lost for words.  Ms. Tillery always gave me good advice when she knew or even felt that I was frustrated. Her kind words always calmed me. Her favorite line to me would be “pumpkin don’t let this job stress you, do your hours and go home to your family”. She was definitely right about that. Tillery was even encouraging me to focus on good memories after the passing of my son in 2024. MS. TILLERY WAS FOREVER BE MISSED. I AM SO PROUD 🥲 I WAS ABLE TO BE APART OF HER LIFE…. I love and miss you 😢 so much. Would do anything to here your voice again letting me know everything will be okay 😓❤️

Love always,
Pumpkin

So sorry to hear about Marsha. She was a lovely person, great mother and a good sister-in-law.

My deepest condolences to the family. From Jacqueline Blount. Nurse Blount from Rikers Island. She will be missed

Tillery, I only knew you for a couple of years, but it felt like I had known you forever. Before I moved to RNDC, a coworker told me that we would hit it off — and she was absolutely right.
Working with you was truly a pleasure. I’ll always remember your naughty mouth and that unfiltered sense of humor that could light up any shift. But beyond the laughs, you were someone I could talk to when I needed it most. You were always there to listen and offer support.
You even gave my son a car — something I will never forget. I drove that same car to see you for the last time, and that means more to me than words can say.
You were an amazing nurse and an even better person. I used to work every weekend you were there just because I enjoyed working alongside you. I will never forget you. Rest peacefully, my friend condolences too the Tillery family .
Sincerely Tamie Williams

I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Ms. Tillery. She was truly an extraordinary woman someone whose strength, wisdom, and kindness touched everyone around her. Her impact was profound, and her legacy will continue to inspire all of us who had the privilege of knowing her.

During this difficult time, please know that my thoughts are with you. I hope you find comfort in the beautiful memories you shared with her and the countless lives she touched. She will always be remembered as a beacon of strength and grace.

May you find peace in knowing that her spirit and the love she gave will live on in each of you.

With my deepest sympathy,
Trev

Miss Tillary i will never forget your beautiful smile every time i came to work the 1st thing I noticed was that smile you would say “what’s up where’s my plate “ because if we had any understanding it was that I will always bring you food and the assignment was always understood we sat and talked for hours you showed me how to financially stable myself for the future you told me open CD accounts how to do my pension things that I didn’t know or understand. We have many laughs and a few times cried together you had a great heart.I would call you anytime and ask you questions about everyday life. You always gave  me your opinion with the story attached to it, of course lol I looked up to you. You Never judge nobody used to tell me I’m from “Brownsville Brooklyn” (we both from Brooklyn) a true Brooklyn breed indeed! I miss you with all my heart love Mueses

Ms. Tillery was a force to be reckoned with In all aspects. She was the nurses of Rikers Island Union President in conjunction with Nursing Supervisor. Ms. Tillery was Ms. Tillery. She had a lot of humor and would tell stories for day. You would be like “ what”. The one valuable jewel I learn from Ms. Tillery was to Live Your Life…..Experience things on this journey. May Ms. Tillery Rest In Peace….God Bless….

Today, we gather with heavy hearts to honor the life of our dear coworker and friend. She was a woman of strength, strong in her convictions, strong in her work, and strong in her love for the people around her. Those who only knew her from a distance might have seen a tough exterior, but anyone who took the time to know her soon discovered something far deeper: a loyal, genuine, and incredibly trustworthy soul. She was the perfect example of why we should never judge a book by its cover.
For many years, she served as our Patient Care Coordinator, and in that role, she was more than a leader, she was a steady presence, a source of wisdom, and a fierce advocate for both patients and staff. As a nurse, she cared with skill and with heart. She always seemed to know the right thing to say, whether you were a patient in need of comfort or a coworker seeking advice. Her guidance was patient, her words meaningful, and her kindness unwavering.
And then there was her smile, that contagious, unforgettable smile that could brighten even the hardest days. It was a smile that made us laugh when we needed it, reassured us when we were overwhelmed, and reminded us that we were never alone in the work we do.
But beyond her professionalism, she was family to us. She was a friend you could rely on, a colleague you could trust, and a leader who inspired by example. She pushed us, supported us, and celebrated with us. She made our team stronger simply by being part of it.
Today, as we remember her, we honor not just the nurse she was, but the person she was: complex, courageous, honest, loving, and deeply human. Her absence leaves a space that will not be easily filled, but her memory will continue to guide us in the way she always did: with compassion, integrity, and heart.
May we carry forward her strength. May we honor her by caring for each other the way she cared for all of us. And may her smile continue to shine in our memories.

Rest in Peace, Ms. Tillery!
RNDC Clinic

RNDC Staff:
Today, we gather with heavy hearts to honor the life of our dear coworker and friend. She was a woman of strength, strong in her convictions, strong in her work, and strong in her love for the people around her. Those who only knew her from a distance might have seen a tough exterior, but anyone who took the time to know her soon discovered something far deeper: a loyal, genuine, and incredibly trustworthy soul. She was the perfect example of why we should never judge a book by its cover.
For many years, she served as our Patient Care Coordinator, and in that role, she was more than a leader, she was a steady presence, a source of wisdom, and a fierce advocate for both patients and staff. As a nurse, she cared with skill and with heart. She always seemed to know the right thing to say, whether you were a patient in need of comfort or a coworker seeking advice. Her guidance was patient, her words meaningful, and her kindness unwavering.
And then there was her smile, that contagious, unforgettable smile that could brighten even the hardest days. It was a smile that made us laugh when we needed it, reassured us when we were overwhelmed, and reminded us that we were never alone in the work we do.
But beyond her professionalism, she was family to us. She was a friend you could rely on, a colleague you could trust, and a leader who inspired by example. She pushed us, supported us, and celebrated with us. She made our team stronger simply by being part of it.
Today, as we remember her, we honor not just the nurse she was, but the person she was: complex, courageous, honest, loving, and deeply human. Her absence leaves a space that will not be easily filled, but her memory will continue to guide us in the way she always did: with compassion, integrity, and heart.
May we carry forward her strength. May we honor her by caring for each other the way she cared for all of us. And may her smile continue to shine in our memories.

There’s a lot I could say about Elane but one of the most important things was she was a great friend. We had so much in common and she was my travel buddy. We had so many good times together and planned on making more this June. The good Lord had different plans which we can never change cause his word is final. It’s funny how she knew my children and I knew her kids, but her kids and our kids didn’t even know each other. I’m so happy that she was a part of my life. She will never be forgotten and she’ll always hold a special place in my heart. I love her and I will miss her so much. I’m still in shock but until we meet again. You can hold the door open for me.

We honor and remember Ms. Tillery,  who was a beloved and retired colleague. Ms. Tillery was a professional nurse to the core, and treated her patients and colleagues with respect and dignity. She was a trusted and reliable team member,  and carried out her nursing duties with compassion,  respect,  dedication,  and professionalism.  She advocated for her colleagues,  and always tried her best to see that we had a reasonable number of staff for the day.

When Ms. Tillery came to work with us as the PCC (Patient Care Coordinator) at the GRVC Rikers Island Clinic in 2025, some of us were not sure of how to relate to her. But as time went on, people relaxed after observing her kind and warm personality. 

Ms. Tillery had a sense of humor,  and would always say "Close my door ". And after she retired on October 31, 2025,  we put up a caption on the clinic door that reads
"Tillery door, EST. 1986, Close my door ".

The sudden and unexpected passing of Ms. Tillery is a shock to us, and we are saddened by it. But we pray that the Almighty God of all comfort will comfort the family,  friends,  and all that knew her.

     Rest in Peace Ms. Tillery. 
         
  From the Nursing and Medical Team, 
     GRVC Clinic,  Rikers Island.

My deepest condolences to the families I pray daddy Jesus give you guys the strength to go on it’s not going to be easy but just take it one day at a time, Tillery girl I love you and you are going to be miss by many you were such an inspirational and kind person to work with you were open to any help I needed never said know it was great working with you in OBCC .. I could keep going on on. but may your loving soul rest in eternal peace.. fr Sharon Ellis

Please accept my sincere sympathy , condolences and prayers during this very difficult time, I’m praying for comfort and healing, may her soul rest in peace eternal.🙏🙏

Dear Ms. Tillery's Family,

I extend my deepest heartfelt condolences to all of you during this difficult time. I had the privilege of working alongside Ms. Tillery for more than 26 years. She made a remarkable impact on my life and the lives of many others.

Ms. Tillery was a tough cookie, and her support meant everything; if she liked you, you were in good hands! She was not only a phenomenal woman but also an incredibly knowledgeable nurse who dedicated herself to her work and her colleagues. As our union president, she fought tirelessly for the rights of nurses, always advocating for us when we needed her most.

Her legacy will continue to resonate within our community and among those who had the honor of knowing her.

With deepest sympathy,💔😢
Paulette McGee

OBITUARY

Marcia E. Tillery

June 18, 1957 – February 15, 2026

R. Stutzmann & Son

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services