Johnny Ralph Tillman, 69, of Columbia, died Monday, October 27, 2014. Born in Sanford, NC on November 26, 1944, he was a son of the late Ralph P. Tillman and Mary Magadeline Tillman Brewer. A member of St. James United Methodist Church, Johnny worked with PYA and Company for a number of years, before going into business for himself and opening Country Gardens on Two Notch Road. He also owned Palmetto Institutional Foods Distributors, and eventually owned and operated A Florist and More and Forget-Me-Not Florist until his passing.

Johnny is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Judi Tillman of Columbia; daughter, Dana (Richard) Lambert of Mocksville, NC; brothers, Jerry (Myrtle-Sue) Tillman of Fayetteville, NC, Tommy (Nellie) Tillman of Sanford, NC, Steve (Cindy) Brewer of Columbia; sisters, Libby Byars of Hopkins, Brenda (Frank) Brock of Henderson, NC, Katherine Stratton and Rose Marie Berkey both of Ohio; grandchildren, Cory and Kirsten; special granddaughter, Skylar Marie; and his loving dog, Jack. In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by daughter, Debbie R. Tillman; son, Randall P. Tillman; and sister, Judy Tillman-Null.

The funeral service for Mr. Tillman will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday, October 30, 2014, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, with The Reverend Mark J. Wendland and The Reverend Todd Davis officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 12 o'clock. Burial will follow in Crescent Hill Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorials be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 537 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464.