| Charles Tillman | |
| Office: | Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi |
| Term Start: | February 25, 2014 |
| Term End: | April 24, 2014 |
| Preceded: | Chokwe Lumumba |
| Succeeded: | Tony Yarber |
| Office3: | Member of the Jackson City Council |
| Term Start3: | July 1, 2005 |
| Term End3: | July 1, 2021 |
| Predecessor3: | Betty Dagner-Cook |
| Successor3: | Vernon Hartley |
| Party: | Democratic |
Charles Tillman (born 1932/1933) is an American politician who served on the Jackson, Mississippi City council for twelve years and as acting mayor after the death of Chokwe Lumumba, becoming the 5th consecutive African-American mayor of the city.
Tillman graduated with a B.A. in business education from Alcorn State University in 1958 and a M.A. in guidance and counseling from the University of Southern California in 1962.[1] He did additional coursework at Atlanta University and took post-graduate classes at the University of Notre Dame and at Jackson State University.[1] He began his career as a counselor at Rowan and Brinkley middle schools in Jackson before becoming a school principal[1] and later president of the Jackson Public Schools Board.[2] He was an active volunteer which led to his running for the Jackson City Council in 2005.[1] In May 2005, he narrowly defeated Betty Dagner-Cook, 903 votes to Dagner-Cook's 845 votes in the Democratic primary for Ward 5 councilmember.[2] On June 7, 2005, he defeated Independent candidate Joe Louis Sanders in the general election,[3] [4] 2,586 votes to Sanders' 384 votes.[5]
After the death of mayor Chokwe Lumumba, Tillman was sworn in as acting mayor on February 25, 2014.[6] He served as mayor until April 24, 2014, when Tony Yarber was sworn in after a special election.[7]
In the 2021 election, seeking a 4th term on the City Council, he was defeated by Vernon Hartley, 936 votes to Tillman's 482.[8]
In 1982, Tillman received the Governor's Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Voluntary Community Service and the National Council of Negro Women's Appreciation Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service.[1]
He has two children.[1]