Lillie Quinn (Russell) Quillian, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and servant of God, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026. Known affectionately as Granny by all who knew her, Quinn was born on September 30, 1923, to Jim Russell and Lena Willard Russell, and lived a life defined by quiet strength, unshakeable faith, and a boundless love for family and community.
A faithful member of Pleasant Dale Baptist Church, Quinn was a God-fearing woman whose prayers were said to reach the very throne of Heaven. Her relationship with her Lord was the foundation upon which she built everything — her home, her family, and her unwavering spirit of giving.
Quinn poured herself into the lives of others in the most tangible of ways. She opened her heart and home to 19 foster children over the course of her life, offering them stability, warmth, and the kind of love that leaves a lasting mark. Neighborhood children knew they were always welcome, and many found in her a steadying presence and a gentle hand.
Her days were filled with the rhythms of a life well-lived: the fragrance of a home-cooked meal, the order of a well-kept house, and the color of flowers carefully tended. Those who knew her will remember Quinn as someone who found joy in the simple and sacred acts of caring for those around her.
She is survived by: Her children: Oweda Kay Todd; Berlon Quillian and wife Mary Ann; Thomas Quillian; and Lynn Taylor. Also considered a son in every sense of the word, former foster child Freddy Borman, who held a special place in her heart. Quinn is further survived by 9 grandchildren and a host of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by: Her devoted and precious husband, James W. Quillian; her parents, Jim Russell and Lena Willard Russell; an infant sister who passed shortly after birth; her brothers, Clay Russell, Junior Ray Russell, Eberl Russell, Clovis Russell, and James Norris Russell; her son-in-law, Bobby Joe Todd; and her great-grandson, Russell Bailey McWhirter.
Funeral Services are set for 12PM on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Tutor Memorial Funeral Home in Pontotoc with visitation beginning at 11AM. Burial will follow in Union Nazarene Cemetery.
In Lieu of Flowers and Food: The family kindly asks that in lieu of flowers and food, donations be made in Quinn’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, or to Pleasant Dale Baptist Church.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Quinn Quillian leaves behind a legacy of love, sacrifice, and faith that will echo through generations.
