Tillie M. Collier

Tillie M. Collier, 77, went into eternal rest on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. She was born January 13, 1938 in Camden, AL to the late Solomon and Authorine Dees. She graduated Knoxville College with a Bachelors degree in Education and later taught French for a number of years at Camden Academy in the early 1960's.

She relocated to Albany, NY in 1966, working for a brief period at the Watervliet Arsenal before moving to Verizon (formerly NY Tel) where she worked for 29 years, retiring in 1998 as a maintenance administrator.

She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, where she was an Elder Deacon and Chair of the Worship Committee, was a Sunday School Teacher and served in many other roles and positions. She had a heart for giving to others, volunteering at several organizations such as: the Food Pantry, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, Focus Churches, Church Women United and countless other organizations.

Tillie was predeceased by her siblings Robert, Turner, Willie James, Sarah, and David Dees as well as her sister-in law Nora Lee Dees.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving children: Christopher (Susan) Collier of San Diego, CA, James (Sharon) Collier, Cheryl Collier and Dawn Collier of Albany, NY and Kimberly (Jason) Ellis of Colonie, NY; her siblings, Paul (Iola) Dees of Colonie, NY, George Dees of Birmingham, AL, Elder Solomon Dees, Jr. of Menands, NY, Jerelene Dees of Albany, NY, and Ruth Robinson of Colonie, NY; her grandchildren, Navasia Collier, Teneisha Thompson, Isa Allah, Jeffrey Thompson, Ishmael Allah, Alif Bland, Waaik Collier-Perrin, Khaliqua Collier and Ajani Collier; great grandchildren, Nevaeh Burton, Omari Lawrence and Aleah Ponders-Bland. In addition, she's survived by a special goddaughter Leesa Crawford-Young and a host of special nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Friday, March 6, 2015, from 9:00am-11:00am at First Presbyterian Church, 362 State Street, Albany, NY 12210, with services to follow at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tillie's memory may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Albany 362 , The American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241 or The Northeast Kidney Foundation 501 New Karner Road, Suite 6 Albany, NY 12205.