THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 29, 1995 TAG: 9503290397
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHEROKEE LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Sherman Lillard, 71, decorated veteran, of the Soco community of Cherokee, died March 19, 1995, at his residence.
A native of Narbeth, Pa., he was a former resident of Chesapeake, Va. He had been a resident of Cherokee for the past 21 years. He attended boarding school in Cherokee and graduated from Western Carolina University in 1993. He was the son of the late Sherman and Dora Crowe Lillard. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He received the Purple Heart at Okinawa during the Korean War. He was a member of the Virginia National Guard. He retired from Civil Service, Department of the Navy, Norfolk Naval Shipyard. He was executive director of the Qualla Indian Boundary Projects from 1974-1980. He was a former Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians representative to the Jackson County planning board. He was also a former chairman of the Soco community club and a former chairman of the reservation community club council. He was former treasurer of the Cherokee Indian Fall Festival Committee, was a former member of the Cherokee Lions Club and former secretary-treasurer of First American Inc. He served as post commander of Steve Youngdeer Post 143, American Legion and 25th district commander and vice commander of the American Legion. He was a member of the board of directors of the National Indian Council.
Surviving are his wife, Carolyn Bigmeat Lillard; three sons, Wiliam R. Lillard of Portsmouth, Va., John Lillard of Charlotte and Eddie Lillard of Greenville, Ky.; five daughters, Theresa Johnson of Wayne, Pa., Cecilia Schroeder of Clearwater, Fla., Beth Lillard and Shermane Lillard of Cherokee, and Dora Lillard of the home; three brothers, Allen Lillard and Bobby Lillard of Sylva, and Clarence Lillard of Winston-Salem; one half-brother, Sam Robinson of Sylva; one sister, Alice DeHart of Sylva; three half-sisters, Elizabeth Potts and Laurel Waddell of Urichville, Ohio, and Rowena Tolly of Sylva; and 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 22, at Charles George Gym in Cherokee. The Rev. James Parris and Ray Kinsland officiated. Burial was in the Veterans Cemetery at Yellow Hill. Graveside services were conducted by Steve Youngdeer Post 143, American Legion. Pallbearers were Ronnie DeHart, Carl DeHart, Steve D. Lillard, Ricky Lillard, Gary Lillard and Steve Lillard. Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorial donations may be sent to Senior Citizens Program, Tsali Manor B-5, Cherokee, N.C. 28719, Attn: Kathi Littlejohn, Director.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB