EASTMAN, GA. – Mr. Scotty Lamar Hilliard, 78, died Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Wellstart MCG Health Medical Center in Augusta.
Funeral service was Saturday, August 16, at Southerland Fun eral Chapel, with Dr. Dwaine Dunn, the Rev. Patrick Barnett, and Mr. Mike Pruett officiating. Interment followed in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Rhine, Ga.
Pallbearers were members of the Georgia State Patrol Honor Guard. Sophia Danforth was the musician for the funeral service.
Hilliard was born August 20, 1947, to the late Mildred Pruett Giddens and S.J. Hilliard. He graduated from Dodge County High School in 1965, and married his wife, Pat, soon after graduating. Hilliard began a career with the Georgia State Patrol at the Helena Post 16, as a radio operator before graduating from GSP Trooper School in Atlanta. He served the Georgia State Patrol faithfully for more than 34 years as a trooper at various posts across the state including Helena, Manchester, Douglas, Waycross, and Madison, before returning to the Helena Post in 2001.
His son, Jay, was born in 1968, while the family was living in Manchester, and his daughter, Janiese, soon followed in 1974, while the family was living in Douglas. Later in 1974, the family was on the move again, this time to Waycross. They enjoyed the 18 years they lived in Waycross, and in 1990, he and his wife moved to Eastman where he was a member of Greenlawn Baptist Church.
Hilliard enjoyed walking and exercising, riding his golf cart through the neighborhood, talking with friends and neighbors, kayaking on the Ocmulgee River, and trips to Lake Blackshear with his family. Many happy memories were made on those trips. He was a beloved father and grandfather, who was affectionately called “PePa” and “PaPa” by his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Hilliard was preceded in death by his parents, wife of 30 years, Pat Erroll Hilliard, wife of 12 years, Joan Bedsole Hilliard, and his stepfather, Charles Jackson Giddens.
He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Cindy Pittman Hilliard of Eastman; daughter, Janiese Hilliard of Eastman; son,
Hilliard
Jay Hilliard (Marti) of Ellaville, Ga.; grandchildren, Amber Steele Richards (Mike) of McRae, Kyle Hilliard (Olivia) of Ellaville, and Kirsten Hilliard Weeks (James) of Newnan, Ga.; great grandchildren, Alayna Richards, Amina Foskey, Shane Foskey, Eve Richards, and Wes Weeks; stepchildren, Kristen Daniels and Kody Daniels both of Eastman; and Kayci Gibbs (David) of Fitzgerald; stepgrandchildren, Abbie Sanders, Ashlyn Sanders, B.J. Gibbs, Kameron Daniels, Summer Daniels, Hunter Daniels, Timber Daniels, and Jessie Daniels; mother-in-law, Wylene Giddens Pittman of Eastman; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Emogene Spires (Rayford) of Haynesville, Ga., Gail Willis of Atlanta, Linda Carnes Webster (Chuck) of Warner Robins, and Bill Pittman (Wanda) of Eastman; as well as several cousins and numerous friends.
Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home of Eastman was in charge of arrangements.
