Tillman was born and raised in the Detroit suburb of Inkster, Michigan.[1] Tillman had three sisters, Sharon, Anna Marie, and Thea, and her parents were Annabelle and George Tillman, her namesakes.[1][2] In 1960, Tillman was recruited into a girl group with her former Inkster High School glee club members Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson and Juanita Cowart.[3] Georgia Dobbins was later added to the lineup by Horton.[4]
The group called themselves The Casinyets, short for "we can't sing yet". The group auditioned for Motown after the talent show, and while the audition was successful,[5] the group was requested to give a musical composition.[4] After Dobbins created the composition "Please Mr. Postman", Dobbins left the group after her father refused to let her perform in the group.[4] The group changed their name to the Marvelettes shortly after Motown signed the act, and Dobbins was replaced by Wanda Young.[4] In 1961, the group released "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961.[4] The single would top the charts, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Motown's first No. 1 Pop hit. The group would score hits such as such as "Playboy", "Beechwood 4-5789", "Someday, Someway", "Strange I Know", Locking Up My Heart, and "Too Many Fish in the Sea".[6] In 1965, Tillman left the group after her diagnosis with lupus, and still suffering from sickle cell disease.[6] Her doctor advised her to leave show business for good, as the disease worsened.[7][8] She continued to work at Motown as a secretary until Motown moved to Los Angeles.[2]
Tillman married Billy Gordon, lead singer of the Contours, on August 12, 1963.[9] They have a son, Darrian.[1]
Before her death, she was a student at the Wayne County Community College and was a secretary at Plymouth State Hospital.[1] Tillman died on January 6, 1980 at her home in Inkster, Michigan from complications of lupus or sickle cell disease.[5][9][2] She was interred at the Metropolitan Memorial Park in Belleville, Michigan.[9][1]
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