THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 23, 1997 TAG: 9701230490
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: 36 lines
William ``Snooks'' Tillett, 84, a longtime waterman who loved to tell stories of a simpler life and played an influential role in Manteo's development, died Tuesday night at Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City.
He was the husband of Dare County School Board Member Virginia Tillett, who chaired the panel for years.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Haven Creek Baptist Church in Manteo.
``Our deepest sympathy goes out to Virginia and all of Snooks Tillett's family,'' Dare County Superintendent Leon Holleman said Wednesday. ``Virginia has established herself as the grand matron of Dare County schools. We will all miss Mr. Snooks because of his sense of humor that kept things in perspective.''
Tillett, a retired waterman who fished for 55 years, was a member and head trustee of Haven Creek Baptist Church. He was a member of Blooming Light Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; two sons, Johnny Tillett of Raleigh and Michael Tillett of Manteo; a daughter, Arvilla Bowser of Manteo; two brothers, John Tillett and Percy Tillett, both of Manteo, and a sister, Delma Meekins of Durham; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Holleman said Tillett took joy in the little things in life.
``Mr. Snooks appreciated the simple things,'' Holleman said. ``He enjoyed things like sitting on the porch, and telling stories of life on Hatteras Island and Wanchese. I hope somebody has written those down. They're treasures that shouldn't be lost.''
A Board of Education workshop, scheduled for Friday, has been postponed, and will be rescheduled.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY