Fred Dean Hilliard, Jr.

F. Dean Hilliard, Jr, 72, of Tifton passed away on Friday, January 26, 2018 at Tift Regional Medical Center.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m.  Sunday, January 28, 2018 at First United Methodist Church of Tifton with Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the church narthex. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of Tifton Rotary Club and Searcher’s Sunday School Class of First United Methodist Church.

Dean was born in Tift County on December 1, 1945 to Estelle Norman Hilliard of Tifton and the late Fred D. Hilliard who died in 1989. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Eason Hilliard who died February 25, 2008 and his son, Hal Hilliard who died July 13, 1997.

Mr. Hilliard lived most of his life in Tifton where he graduated from Tift County High School in 1963, and later graduated from Georgia Tech in 1969.  He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam Era. He was a very active member of First United Methodist Church of Tifton where he sang in the church choir and was a member of the Searcher’s Sunday School Class. Dean loved his church and was of strong Christian character who lived his faith. Dean was a partner with Hilliard Financial Services where he was a Certified Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and Certified Long-Term Care Specialist. Dean was very active in Tifton as a member,Past President, Sergeant at Arms and served on the Board of Directors of Tifton Rotary Club and served on Board of Directors of Hospice of Tift Area. He was an avid outdoorsman, golfer, and a great chef. Continuing a family tradition, he was an exemplary husband, son, father and grandfather.

In addition to his Mother, he is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Trip and Melanie Hilliard of Roswell; one daughter and son-in-law, Honey Hilliard and her husband Kenny Dixon of Tallahassee, Fla; three grandchildren, Autumn Hilliard-Knapp, Stella Dixon, Harrison Hilliard; one brother and sister-in-law, David and Linda Hilliard of Tifton and one sister and brother-in-law, May and Carter Choate of Tifton. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.