Major (Ret.) Raymond Evan Tillery, Jr., age 54, of Midland, Georgia passed away on Monday, January 7, 2019. Ray (as he was affectionately called) was born August 31, 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland to Lucille Webster Tillery and Raymond Evan Tillery. In his early years, he attended public schools in Baltimore County, Maryland. After moving to Gahanna, Ohio in 1972, he developed his foundational Christian faith at Mifflin Presbyterian Church. He attended Lincoln Elementary, Middle School East and Gahanna Lincoln High School, where he played varsity football, played the drums in the band and served as class president all four years.
Ray received a full Army ROTC scholarship, graduated magna cum laude in business administration from Saint Augustine’s University, Raleigh, NC where he was active in student government. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at New Salem Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. He completed his juris doctorate (JD) degree from West Virginia University Law School, Morgantown, WV, and served as Quarter Master and Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) officers in Honolulu, HI.
In 1993, Ray married the love of his life Joycelyn Cady in Honolulu, HI. They had three children: son Reginald Tillery; daughters Reagan and Rhema Tillery. Raymond taught his children leadership, compassion, respect for others, and to use their God-given talents to help others.
Ray was a Godly man, he demonstrated this by treating people with kindness and respect, and was always serving others. He loved spending time with his wife and children and taking walks with his dog “Bella”. An avid Ohio State football fan, he enjoyed singing, dancing and laughing with his friends.
He spent more than 20 years practicing military law both as an active duty officer, a civilian and reservist officer. After retiring, Ray was the sole proprietor of the Law Firm of Raymond Tillery, Jr. and served as an assistant district attorney, a Magistrate and a Municipal Court Judge in Columbus, GA. A member of the American Bar Association, Ray helped develop the youth basketball program at the YMCA. Previously active at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ray served as a senior leader for more than ten years in ReFresh Church in Columbus, GA.
Major (Ret.) Raymond Evan Tillery, Jr., will always be remembered as a wonderful son, brother, husband and father; for his compassion and service to others, and most of all, for loving God.
Raymond is survived by his loving wife Joycelyn Cady Tillery of 25 years; son Reginald Tillery; daughters Reagan and Rhema Tillery; father Raymond Evan Tillery; mother Lucille Webster Tillery; sister Rochelle “Shelly” Larkin Ford; sister-in-laws Donna Strickland, Melissa Cady; Vicki Cady, Tina Hardrick (Jeffery); bother-in-laws Don Cady, Michael Cady (Lashawn), Chris Cady (Lisa), Shaun Cady; godfather and uncle Oscar Webster (Patricia); godmother Angela Webster; aunts Ellen Baynard, Sally Hogan (Donal), LaGrande Lewis Beckett (Edmund), and Betty Thompson; uncles Reginald Tillery (Fabiola), Roland Tillery, Joseph Webster, Addison Webster and Larry Webster (Scarmell); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members; and many, many friends.
A visitation for family and friends for Major (Ret.) Raymond Evan Tillery, Jr. will be held Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in Edgewood Hall of Striffler-Hamby, 4071 Macon RD, Columbus, GA 31907, followed by a Celebration of Raymond Tillery's life from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions on behalf of Major (Ret.) Raymond Tillery's memory may be made to YMCA of Metro Columbus, c/o D.A. Turner Branch YMCA, 4384 Warm Springs Rd, Columbus, GA 31909. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.shcolumbus.com for the Tillery family.
