Mother Minne Lee Branch Tillery was born on December 13, 1931 in Halifax County NC to the late Laura Alice Branch and William Ballard Sr.  She was called to rest on February 26, 2024.

Mother Tillery's mother and grandmother passed when she was just a little girl, therefore she was raised by her late grandfather, William "Bill" Branch, affectionately known as "Pa Bill".

Mother Tillery was educated in the Halifax County School Systems where she graduated from Brawley High School.  She often spoke of wanting to attend college after graduating high school, and her former teacher, Mrs. Cleo Turner helped her fill out the paperwork for college, however her Grandpa wasn't financially able to send her to college.  She was a strong advocate for education, and years later she attended Halifax Community College at night while working full time at school during the day.

Tillery was employed with the Halifax County School System, first working as Secretary at Dawson Elementary, then working in the classroom as a Teacher Assistant for 30 plus years. For 50 years, she drove the school bus for several schools in the county.  She also drove the activity bus for Halifax County Schools, safely transporting students and teachers on field trips to the museums in Raleigh NC, Williamsburg VA and surrounding areas.  She loved working in the classroom, and driving the school bus, transporting the students to and from school.  She received numerous safe driving certificates and awards for driving the bus.  She worked 52 years with Halifax County Schools.  During the course of her life, she also worked several part time jobs, including working in Meyers Supermarket, and for a few years, during the summer while on school break; she also traveled to New York to work.

Mother Tillery was united in marriage to Charles W. Tillery of Tillery NC. From this union two daughters were born, Patricia T. Johnson and Sandra Tillery both of Raleigh, NC.

Mother Tillery joined Crowell Baptist Church at a very young age, under the pastorship of the late Reverend Mckinley Nicholson.  She served as a Senior Choir Member; was a member of the  Pastor's Aide Ministry, and the Deaconess Ministry.  She also worked with the youth, teaching Sunday School.  She later joined Smith Chapel Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Robert Farmer, where she served as Deaconess, and later the Mothers' Ministry.  She was a faithful member until her health began to decline.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Tillery, mother, Laura Alice Branch, her father William Ballard Sr., grandmother, Minnie Branch, grandfather William "Bill" Branch and a sister Ethel Washington.

She leaves to cherish her fond memories to her beloved daughters Patricia T. Johnson and Sandra Tillery of Raleigh, NC; one aunt Patsy Ballard of Scotland Neck NC; one sister-in-law Doris Bunch (Raymond) of Rocky Mount NC; one special grandson JL Harris; two special friends whom she considered more like daughters, Louise Watson Dickens and Shirley Lyons (who called her every day); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Funeral Service was held on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at 1:30 pm at Smith Chapel Baptist Church, 15831 US Highway 301, Enfield, North Carolina. Burial followed in the Crowell Baptist Church Cemetery, 4503 NC 481 Highway, Halifax, NC.  A Public Viewing was held on Saturday, March 2, 2023 in the Lea and Pope Funeral Home Chapel from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Arrangements were handled by Lea and Pope Funeral Home, Enfield, North Carolina. Send condolences to www.leapopefuneralhome.com.