Greta Mary Emily (Drummond) Tillman Williams

Greta Drummond Tillman Williams, the oldest of three children, was born in Parksley, Virginia, on May 23, 1925, to the late George and Grace Drummond.  Two months after her birth, her father, the oldest of twelve children, moved his wife and young daughter to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in search of a city with greater opportunities for the family.  Their home in Philadelphia became the welcome station and boarding home for all of her father’s younger brothers and sisters.  Greta, the oldest of her siblings, followed in her father’s footsteps and ultimately became the guardian and caregiver for her two younger brothers, William and George, Jr., who preceded her in death.

Greta attended the public schools of the Philadelphia School System and later enrolled at Dobbins Vocational High School where she achieved her first career goal as a licensed cosmetologist.  Still yearning to do more, she entered the fashion world as a designer and maker of women’s hats for the S and S Hat Company.  She designed hats for more than twenty years until she was invited to accept one of the first positions in the Philadelphia School System as a Home and School Visitor at Sulzberger Junior High School.  She earned this position based on her active participation and involvement in various community organizations such as the Parents Teachers Association, Boy Scouts and baseball and football little league teams.  At the termination of the Home and School Visitors Program, Greta joined the staff of the Pennsylvania Hospital as a clerk in the emergency center where she worked until her retirement in 1987.

After marrying Joseph Tillman, her junior high school sweetheart, they raised three children, Walter, Rosalyn, and Joseph, Jr.  Greta raised and provided for her children by always giving them what they needed and not necessarily what they desired in life.  She always took her children, her nieces, nephews, and the neighborhood children to Sunday school, vacation Bible school and Sunday morning church service.  She supported her children in their various childhood activities and stressed the importance of a college education.  Greta told her children that she could not help them with their college projects, but she would stay up with them until the projects were completed.  She was very proud to attend the college graduation for each of her children who received degrees in engineering, education and business respectively.

Greta was happy when she was able to give service to the Lord, and she was an active member of John Wesley United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, which later became Wharton Wesley United Methodist Church. This woman of God held various positions in the church, namely director of the Methodist Youth Fellowship for more than thirty years, Sunday school and vacation Bible school teacher, and instructor for the sewing classes.  Greta was a member of the United Methodist Women, the senior choir, the Voices of Praise Chorus, and the Stewardess Board.  In later years, her passion for service with a focus on senior citizens allowed her the opportunity to become president of the Golden Agers, a position she held for many years until her relocation to Albany, Georgia, where she became the beacon of much love for her daughter, Rosalyn, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.

Soon after moving to Albany, Greta joined Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she devoted her time to working and supporting the Sarah Allen Outreach Ministry.  In 2008, she participated in the church's King and Queen Contest and was crowned Bethel's Queen.  In 2019 at the age of 94, she was honored as the oldest living female member of the church and was given the title of "Mother of the Church." Greta was always very thankful to Pastor Ernest Davis, Jr. and Bethel's congregation for the cordial, warm, and loving welcome extended to her. She was a faithful member and attended church regularly until her health began to fail.

Greta leaves to celebrate the legacy of her life three children: Walter Drummond (Mildred), Neptune, New Jersey; Rosalyn T. Jones, Albany, Georgia; and Joseph Tillman, Jr. (Vivian) Washington, DC; ten grandchildren:  Randy Hill, Tymesia Smaw (Eric), Khary Hunt, Walter Drummond, Jr.( Chanel), Ernest Jones, Jr. (Allison), James Drummond, Eric Jones (Kristen), Jenne' Tillman, Linda McCrary (Timothy), Brittany Tillman, and one adoptive granddaughter (bonus) Kianna Johnson (Gorman); and thirteen great-grandchildren. She also leaves to cherish her memories a very loving and devoted brother-in-law, Samuel Ellis, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many sorrowing friends. Greta was tenderly cared for by the devoted staff  and directors of the Alzheimer’s Outreach Center, Willie Mae Price, Annie Williams, and to the very end by Kathalean Guy.

On the morning of August 31, 2020, Greta was called home by her Heavenly Father to enjoy eternal life filled with peace, adorn her new spiritual body, and live in complete wholeness with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a joyful reunion for Greta to see her mother and father; brothers, William and George, Jr.; husbands, Joseph and Harold; and daughter, Greta. Now they are all together again.

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