Rev. James “Edwin” Dillard, 86, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia in Tifton. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 2, 2022, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Conway Harris officiating. Mr. Dillard will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Friday, December 2, 2022, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Randy Ray, Gary Dove, Buddy Walker, Ray Gutierrez, Derrick Dillard, Ryan Vowell and Frankie Dillard will serve as pallbearers.
Born December 2, 1935, in Tift County, Mr. Dillard was the son of the late Willie Jefferson Dillard and Lucindy Sapp Dillard. He was also preceded in death by his wife of almost 66 years, Martiel Rowell Dillard. He was a retired Baptist Minister, and he was a member of Believers Baptist Church in Tifton, where he served as pastor for 40 years.
Mr. Dillard is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Charles and Melissa Dillard of Ty Ty, Sammy and Gloria Dillard of Tifton and Glenn Dillard of Nashville; one sister, Doris Dillard of Brookfield; eight grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.