Monday, November 21, 2022. Mary Helen was born in Jonesboro, La. to the late J.B. “Pete” and Geneva Perdue.
She spent her childhood in Union County, where she made her declaration to Jesus Christ at North Highland Assembly of God in El Dorado at the age of nine. As she always said, “I knelt at an altar and gave me to Jesus and never took me back.”
Mary Helen graduated from Huttig High School and went on to receive her LPN license from Southeast Arkansas College. She moved to Warren in 1963 to complete her nursing degree at Bradley County Memorial Hospital. It was there that she met her husband when he was her patient.
Mary Helen became a member of Warren Assembly of God and remained one until her time of death. Mary Helen spent 26 years in the nursing field working at the hospital and the two local nursing homes in Warren. In the mid 80’s, she returned to college to pursue her dream of teaching and obtained her degree in 1988. For the next 26 years she taught history; first, at the Wilmar and Drew Central school districts, and later as an adjunct instructor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where she completed her career in 2015. Mary Helen also served as a board member for 22 years at the Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union.
She will be mostly remembered for her explosive laugh and her beautiful singing.
Other than her parents, Mary Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, Harvey Eugene Perdue, John Wayne Perdue and Charles Perdue and her sister, Margaret Ann Pardue.
Survivors include her husband James Tillman, whom she married on December 21st, 1963; two sons, Julian Scott Tillman of Springfield, Mo. and Mark Tillman (Heather) of Warren as well as a daughter, Phyllis Tillman (Dianne) of Warren; two bonus children, Becky Perkins (Bryan) of Strafford, Mo. and Matt Trucks (Julie) of Warren; two siblings, Jack Perdue (Juanita) of Liberty City, Texas and Glenda Graves of Huttig. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Anna Goddard (Tim), Asher Tillman, Asa Tillman, Asaiah Tillman, Mileigh Tillman, Maggie Tillman, Kaylyn Johnson and Lauren Hays (Jonathan). She is also survived by four great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service for Mary Helen were at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Frist Assembly of God Church. Burial was in Willoughby Cemetery by Frazer’s Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Derek Nichols, Scott Taylor, Michael Burns, Rodney Grice, Bruce Grice and Keith Grice. Honorary Pallbearers were Doyle Gill, RP Outlaw, Bill Jones, Kermit Puterbaugh, James Wright, Robert Sellers and Charles Andrus.
Ministers presiding were Rev. Jim Bales and Rev. Ronnie Allen. Pianist was Celesta Puterbaugh. Soloists were Celesta Puterbaugh and Asher Tillman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to First Assembly of God Church in Warren, or Hospice Home Care.
