Kentucky tornado victims had lived in their Laurel County home only about a year

Bobby and Bernice Tillman had been living in their new home for a little more than a year when it was hit by the EF-4 tornado that struck Laurel County May 16.

Both were confirmed dead Saturday evening after the overnight storms Friday, two of the 19 victims of the tornadoes statewide.

The Tillmans were found in their bathroom, covered by mattresses in that new home on Wyan Road near London when the tornado hit, according to their daughter Heather Fries. Afterward, the house was “completely gone.”

The Tillmans moved to Kentucky about 20 years ago when Bobby Tillman, 76, retired from Caterpillar Tractor Company in Aurora, Illinois. Bernice grew up in Kentucky, and they had lots of family in the area, Fries said.

“My dad is a naval veteran,” Fries told the Herald-Leader Wednesday. “He loved sweets and ate dessert first. He had a great sense of humor and it was absolutely hilarious when he got tickled and started laughing hard.”

Bernice, 73, was a homemaker. She loved her church family at Soujourn Baptist Church and her friends at Weight Watchers, Fries said.

“She loved to take walks and dote on her many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews,” her daughter said.

Funeral services for the couple will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 23 at Hart Funeral Home in Corbin with visitation beginning at noon.

This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 4:45 AM.