Josh Grant Tilly, age 24, of Herndon and Reston died suddenly on Friday morning, Feb. 8, 2008, in his sleep. He was born on May 22, 1983 in Falls Church.
He attended Forest Edge Elementary School, Reston, Herndon Middle and High School before graduating from South Lakes High in 2001. Following graduation, he attended Lees-Macrae College in N.C. He was known for his caring, playful friendly spirit. He had a passion for cars, motorcycles, playing the guitar and his dog Honey.
He grew up in Reston playing on basketball and baseball teams. He played freshman football at Herndon High and was on the South Lakes JV Basketball team.
He was the beloved son of Annie Hennessa Downer and her husband Doug of Herndon and David Michael Tilly and his wife Deborah of Ball Ground, Ga., twin brother of Zach Tilly of Herndon, brother of Robert, Ashley and Justin Tilly of Purcellville and Jacob Tilly of Ball Ground, Ga., grandson of Gail and Grant Hennessa of Potomac Falls and Lottie Tilly of Ball Ground, Ga., step brother of Kaitlyn and Julia Downer of Herndon, nephew of Kelly Hennessa and Greg Powell of Gainesville, Eve Hennessa of Washington, D.C. and Mark and Kathy Tilly of Pittsburgh, Pa. He was currently in a loving relationship with Catherine Harris of Beaver Dam, Va.
He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 15 from 6-8 p.m. at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden Street, Herndon, and again on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. to noon at Herndon United Methodist Church, 701 Bennett Street, Herndon, where funeral services will be held at
noon. Interment will immediately follow at Chestnut Grove Cemetery, Herndon.
The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the South Lakes High School Laptop Scholarship Program, 11400 South Lakes Dr., Reston, VA 20191.