Gladys Irene Melvin Tillman

Gladys Irene Melvin Tillman, 88, of Forsyth, Georgia, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025 after a brief illness. Irene was born in Smarr, Georgia on July 20, 1937 to the late Robert and Wilma Melvin. As a child, she moved to Forsyth, where she attended Mary Persons High School, graduating in 1955. It was in Forsyth that she met Valvard Tillman on a blind date. They later married, a union that lasted 50 years until his death in 2011.

Irene’s first job was sewing feet into pajamas at the Carter’s factory, but for most of her career she worked in the meat department and later as the bookkeeper at the Forsyth Red and White grocery store. It was here that the community got to know “Miss Irene,” and “meeting all the people” was what she enjoyed most about her job.

As a long-time member of Maynard Baptist Church, Irene participated in many activities, including teaching Sunday School. She loved reading, and would often re-read her favorite books multiple times. In retirement, she relished taking trips all over the country with her travel group and getting together with friend groups like the Red Hats and Merry Hearts. But her greatest joy was her family, who all adored her quick wit and Southern cooking.

Irene was preceded in death by her brothers Marvin and Bobby Melvin. She is survived by her son Keith (Brenda) Tillman of Roswell, Georgia, her grandchildren Kristen (Brandon) Schultze of Woodstock, Georgia and Ryan (Anna) Tillman of Washington, D.C., and her great-granddaughter Emma Schultze. She is also survived by her siblings Harvey (Yvonne) Melvin of Barnesville, Georgia, Helen Williams of Forsyth, Georgia, and Mary (Alan) Bryan of Gray, Georgia, along with many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Irene will be conducted on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. at Maynard Baptist Church in Forsyth, with Paster Matthew Bishop officiating. Interment will follow at Monroe Hills Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends for a time of Visitation on Saturday, September 20, 2025 from 4:00 – 5:30 P.M. at the Monroe County Memorial Chapel in Forsyth.

If you would like to make a contribution in Irene’s memory, please consider the Maynard Baptist Church New Van Fund, 1195 Juliette Road, Forsyth, Georgia 31029, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), an organization that Irene faithfully supported for many years.