Carroll Peyton (C.P.) Hilliard left this earth on February 25, 2020 after a year-and-a-half-long battle with cancer. Although chemo and radiation eliminated all of the cancer, those same treatments left him with a miserable quality of life. He was at peace with his choice to die with dignity through Hospice of Virginia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Newton Hilliard and Virginia C. Hamilton; three brothers, Robert “Icey,” William “Billy,” and Wilmer “Bootsie”; one daughter, Deborah; and three previous wives, Brigette, Alethia, and Lynette.
C.P. is survived by three daughters, Bella, Denise, and Delores with son-in-law Wayne; five grandchildren, Austin, Jeremy, Jennifer, Jacqueline, and Josephine; six great-grandchildren; niece, Ginger; nephews, Robert “Dudy” and Wayne “Bubba”; two sisters-in-law, Bootsie and Bunny; and his fiancee, Mary Ann Dunaway.
C.P. was born and raised in Richmond and lived there until he moved to the Northern Neck (Topping and Kilmarnock) in 1985. He was in the Army from 1959-1969 as a staff sergeant and was deployed to Vietnam in 1966-1967. He obtained his diesel mechanic certification through an apprenticeship program at the VA Medical Center. He worked at Cummins and UPS as a lead diesel mechanic before opening his own shop, C.P.’s Custom Pipes in Richmond, and later Hilliard’s Brake and Muffler in Kilmarnock.
He was a member of the American Legion and proud to be a Vietnam vet. He loved being on the water, his boats, motorcycles, cars, and women. Now he can rest in peace. He chose to have his visitation during his last weeks on earth rather than later at a funeral home. His ashes will be scattered in the Rappahannock River. Thanks to all of his friends and family for their thoughts, prayers, and time spent with C.P. He truly enjoyed it.
