02/04/04 — Frank Tillman dies

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Frank Tillman dies

By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on February 4, 2004 2:02 PM

Frank Tillman

Frank Tillman, owner of the Frema Motors Mazda and Volkswagen automobile dealership in Goldsboro, died Tuesday night while on vacation in Las Vegas.

Family and friends at the dealership were still in shock this morning over his unexpected death.

John Harris, sales manager at Frema, said they were making arrangements to bring the body back home. "It's a bad situation, but we'll deal with it and go on."

"We are all shocked," said Steve Hicks, president and executive director of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. "Our prayers are with the family."

"He was a great tribute to this organization and will be extremely missed," he added.

Tillman was elected as the new chairman of the chamber's board of directors, and it was to be made official at the chamber's annual banquet. The banquet was initially scheduled for Jan. 28, but due to the ice storm, it was rescheduled for Feb. 18, Hicks said.

Tony Worrell will continue as chairman of the board until the board elects a new chairman for 2004, he said.

Tillman had also been active for many years in the Goldsboro-Wayne Crime Stoppers organization.

Under Tillman's leadership, Frema Motors has won numerous industry awards.