William Garland Lillard

William (Bill) Garland Lillard, Jr., 86, passed away Saturday, November 29, 2014, in a Dalton, GA healthcare facility. He was of the Baptist faith and served in the Air Force. He was a 50-year member of Ocoee Lodge #212, a charter member of Kerbela Temple in Knoxville, and was a member of the Jericho Shrine Temple in Kingsport, TN. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Garland Lillard, Sr., and Edith Higdon Lillard,one stepson, David Shanks, sisters, Betty Rose Doddy, and Jerry Lynn Smith. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Hughes Lillard; one daughter, Mary Jane (Lillard) Rollins, of Benton, TN; one son, William G. Lillard, III, and wife Rose, of Chapel Hill, NC; one granddaughter, Ashley Elizabeth Painter and husband Brian, of Chatsworth, GA; one great grandson, Caden Bryce Painter of Chatsworth, GA; and one sister, Nola Jeaninne Scott of Cleveland, TN. Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014, at Higgins Funeral Home officiated by Reverend Fred Wilcoxson. A private interment will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, in Benton Cemetery ending with a white dove release ceremony. A Masonic service will be held at 5:00 p.m. prior to the visitation. The family will receive friends from 5-7:30 p.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Friends of Polk County Library P.O. Box 1171, Benton, Tn 37307. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Lillard family guestbook at www.higginsfuneral.com.