Eloise (Hilley) Torrence

Mrs. Eloise Hilley Scarborough Torrence, 86, of Tifton, passed away on Monday, April 27, 2020 at Maple Court Assisted Living Center.

A private graveside service will be held Saturday, May 2, 2020 in Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Craig Nalls officiating.

Mrs. Torrence was born April 3, 1934 in Dutton, Alabama to the late Floyd Melvin Hilley and Golden Inez Baird Hilley. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Duane Torrence who died April 15, 2019, her first husband, W. J. Scarborough, Jr., her brother Clifford Hilley and her grandson Jeffery Dillard. Mrs. Torrence was of the Baptist faith and had lived in Tifton since 1962. Miss Eloise graduated from Doerun High School in 1951. She served Tifton’s municipal government faithfully for thirty-seven years and retired in 1999 as Assistant City Manager. Mrs. Torrence filled many professional offices in the state and national level. Eloise was a State of Georgia International Certified Municipal Clerk and a State Certified Finance Officer. During her career she also served as interim city manager, assistant city manager and on the planning and zoning commission. She was a member and president of Business and Professional Women’s Club, member and president of Georgia Municipal Clerks Association and member and Exalted Ruler of Tifton’s Elk’s Club. She was the recipient of the 1996 Chamber of Commerce Athena Award and was inducted into the Georgia Municipal Association Hall of Fame. Mrs. Scarborough also played a major role in designing, decorating and implementing programs for the Leroy Rogers Senior Citizens/Multi-Purpose Center. She personally designed the computer program to index all city deeds. It was said when she retired “Eloise Scarborough is an Institution at City Hall that will never be replaced”.

Mrs. Torrence is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Anthony Duane Scarborough, Sr., of Tifton, Johnny and Deanna Scarborough of Evansville, Tennessee, Joe and Debbie Torrence, Jr., of Tampa and Doug Torrence of Cleveland, TN; three daughters and son-in-law, Kitty and Pat Cawley of Tifton, Kay Dillard of Brookfield and Angie Lentz of Chattanooga; eleven grandchildren, Tony and Monica Scarborough, Hunter Scarborough, Andrew Scarborough, Buddy and Faith Cawley, Verla and Dewey Williams, Gwen and David Driggers, Darren Dillard, Stephanie Dillard, Eric and Leann Scarborough, James and Robin Scarborough and Dena and Greg Gilliam; many great grandchildren and her brother, Waylon Hilley of Florence, South Carolina, special cousin Melody Wolfe, special niece Karen Hartley, special nephew Corby Hilley and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX. 75284-0692.

Albritton Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.