Lillie Mae (Parks) Tolliver

Lillie Mae Tolliver was the second daughter born to the late John Henry and Thelma Alice Parks on June 26, 1942. She was affectionately known as “Kitty” to close friends and family. She attended the public schools in the Richland One School District, and graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina in 1960. Lillie grew up in the church, attending Progressive Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, where she sang in the choir and was a member of the sewing committee. Sewing was both a hobby and a passion that she learned from her mother, a professional seamstress. Lillie used her sewing skills to make items for family, friends, and even completed projects for her church.

    She was joined in holy matrimony to James Carroll Tolliver in 1966. From this union three children were born, James Anthony, Rhonda Michelle, and Ronald Dwayne. Lillie Mae was a loving and devoted mother to her children. She always encouraged them, and gave them the following pieces of advice: “Speak up for yourself”, “Follow your dreams”, and “Live your life”. 

Lillie Mae worked in the insurance industry as an office specialist for several different insurance companies, but primarily for Insurance of North America (INA) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina.  After her retirement from insurance, she was able to enjoy her many hobbies of sewing, shopping, spending time with family and friends, and being a grandmother.  Although she lived in Columbia, SC most of her life, she relocated to Atlanta in the spring of 2002.

A fashionista in her own right, shopping was another one of Lillie Mae’s favorite hobbies. She enjoyed shopping so much, she decided to work at TJ Maxx part time to fill some of her time during retirement. She worked there until she decided to retire full time.

Lillie Mae Quietly passed away on Friday, October 28, 2022 in Stone Mountain, Georgia.  She was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry and Thelma Alice Parks,  along with her husband, James Carroll Tolliver.

She leaves to mourn her passing:  three sisters- Rosa Lee Richardson, Winnsboro, NC, Lucille Samuels, Charlotte, NC, and Victoria Parks of Rock Hill, SC; three children-Rhonda Michelle Tolliver, Atlanta, GA, James Anthony (Nancy) Tolliver of Union Town, PA,  and Ronald Dwayne Tolliver (Keysha) of Summerville, SC; five grandchildren-  Jade Iman Tolliver, Ja’erra Shaquan Tolliver, Semaj Chevalier Tolliver,  Juwan Chastin Tolliver, and Nakil Christopher Tolliver, her mother-in law- Alice Blakeley of Columbia, SC; two brother-in-laws, Joseph Tolliver and Greg (Sandra) Tolliver, one sister-in law- Shirley Gieger, all of Columbia, SC,  and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

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