Carolyn Dillon, Longtime Editor & Publisher of The Tylertown Times, Passes Away

The long-time editor and publisher of The Tylertown Times is dead at 79.

Carolyn Dillon died in the early morning hours Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, at Mobile Infirmary, Mobile, Ala., where she had been moved to be with her daughter, Dr. Cassie Burns.

Dillon was first hospitalized at Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg, Nov. 27 last year suffering kidney failure and other health problems.

The well-known and respected journalist had worked for The Times practically all her life, starting at the paper when she was 12-yearsold, working after school and on weekends.

Dillon began work at The Times around 1958 in the paper’s front office. At that time the newspaper carried office supplies, and the newspaper employed high school students as sports reporters, teen columnists and photographers. The office work allowed her to hone the communication skills that are an asset to every reporter. Working alongside adults, she developed the writing and editing skills that she said, to her, came quite naturally. Previously, Dillon had worked at the candy counter at the W.E. Walker 5 and 10-cent store, next door to the newspaper office.

When she joined The Times, the paper had been purchased a year earlier by the late Paul Pittman, who acquired the publication from Lester Williams in 1957.

For Dillon, the newspaper business “clicked” and she remained active in the journalism profession the next 67 years.

Her work ethic was legendary. Until she became ill in late November, she kept a CAROLYN DILLON, LONGTIME EDITOR & PUBLISHER OF THE TYLERTOWN TIMES, PASSES AWAY schedule that most 20to-30 year-olds would have found difficult.

She was known statewide and over the years The Times won several awards from the Mississippi Press Assn. for news coverage, editorials and advertising campaigns.

She was a mentor to several who got their start with The Times and/or WTYL Radio, of which she was president and general manager.

Tony Plohetski, an investigative reporter for the Austin American Statesman and ABC affiliate KVUE; Drew McCaskill, Atlantabased senior director global communications and inclusive engagement at LinkedIn; Ted

Fortenberry, vice president and general manager of WLBT, Jackson, are among those who went on to achieve success in their chosen careers, all having worked for Dillon in high school and/or college. “

Perhaps the most important value I learned from Carolyn was the importance of community-driven journalism,” Plohetski said. “She knew and respected the power and influence of community-centered news coverage and dedicated her life to using it for good.”

McCaskill said: “She poured her life into connecting us to each other from our births to our deaths and every moment - big and small in between. Of all the mentors I have ever had, she had the biggest impact on my career.” F o r t e n b e r r y added: “At 17 years old, I never could have imagined that broadcasting would be my lifelong career. She gave me that opportunity, and I have never forgotten where it all started.”

Each of the three men is quick to say the experience they gained working for Dillon was a huge contributor to their success.

Working for The Times of WTYL under Dillon could be as trying experience but, as one former employee and friend of many years put it, “I get so frustrated, she made me cry. But, in the overall picture, she taught me more about life that I would have ever experienced somewhere else.”

Well respected by veteran news media from cub reporters to owners, publishers and editors and broadcasters representative of the “old school” of journalism, she could still come up with questions to be asked that the reader or listeners would either want or need to know.”

Dillon was a firm believer in being active in one’s community. She felt it to be everyone’s responsibility to become involved in civic affairs.

She championed projects to benefit her hometown and county, working toward economic development, attracting industry and jobs to the county.

She was a tireless volunteer when it came to promoting her home region. She was active in the Walthall Chamber of Commerce for decades, promoting events that help define and make Walthall County recognizable all over the state.

When the original group sponsoring the Walthall Dairy Festival was considering an end to the event several years ago, Dillon was one of the organizers of a Chamber group that took over the event, targeting a new direction, until today it is one of the best known, longest lasting and oldest free festivals in the state, attracting visitors in the thousands to celebrate the rich dairy history of Walthall County.

Although the once prominent dairy farms have been largely replaced by poultry farms, many of today’s residents can recall their chance to attend college being financed by the family dairy farm.

Because of Dillon’s efforts that heritage is celebrated today.

Her guidance and involvement in Christmas in the Park and organization of the committee that runs today’s holiday light display has made it into one of the most successful Christmas light shows in the state, attracting thousands annually to the 430acres of lights. It has been mentioned several times as one of the top 10 “must see” Christmas light shows in the state, quite an accomplishment for a small town of 1800 and a small county of 13,000 residents.

Industrial development was another of Dillon’s passions. Her volunteer efforts have been directly responsible for the location of industry and jobs. The county is still home to hundreds of workers trained in the “needle trades,” and while many of those jobs went overseas, an Alabama cotton grower and retailer has developed a market for high quality, U.S. manufactured cotton sheets. Tylertown is home to the manufacturing plant of Red Land Cotton.

Since the closing of Haspel Bros. Dillon has been involved in the development and location of practically every industry that has located in Walthall County since.

Her business and professional life, and her own personal life, are reflected in her philosophy that, as citizens, we owe it to our community to become involved, working for the common good of all.

Dillon was born April 13, 1945, daughter of the late Wes and Lovie Dillon.

She is survived by a daughter and sonin-law, Dr. Cassie and Trey Burns and their children, Ethan and Gage, of Fairhope, Ala.; a sister, Barbara Faircloth of Baton Rouge, La.; a brother and sister-in-law, Dudley and Jackie Dillon of Tylertown; nephews Wes Dillon (Lindsay) and son, Wyatt, of Destin, Fla.; Jeremy Dillon (Nikki), son Bryce and daughter, Leah of Hattiesburg; Troy Martin of Baton Rouge; niece, Madison Martin and son, Perry, of Baton Rouge; nephew, Rob Kennedy and daughters, Chelsea Hill and Micah Craft of Tylertown.

A public visitation at Hartman-Hughes Funeral Home will be announced.

Private family funeral services and burial will be held at Rushing Cemetery will be held. Courtesy of The Tylertown Times.