Macon man reunites with long lost brother after nearly 40 years

ATLANTA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – In the spirit of Thanksgiving, one Macon has been looking for his brothers for nearly 40 years trying to bring his family closer together. 

As time went on, Lee Tillman never gave up hope that his long-lost siblings were out there. 

“It was always in the back of my mind. He was out there somewhere,” Tillman said. “Mike was out there too.”

Tillman is anxious, excited, nervous.

“Every year that they weren’t there, it just wasn’t the same,” he said. 

Tillman, who grew up in Labelle, Florida — two hours north of Miami — didn’t have a typical childhood. 

He and his biological brothers spent years in foster homes after their parents couldn’t keep them.

“My two younger brothers were adopted and I never was adopted. I stayed in foster care most of my childhood,” Tillman said. 

A family brought in both of Lee’s brothers and moved to Maryland, leaving him behind. 

After the death of both parents and aging out of foster care, Tillman, who’s a hairstylist in Macon, never gave up hope of finding his brothers.

10 years ago, he filled out information on a website called adopteeconnect.com, hoping his brothers were out there.

“This past July I got a response, a reply from it, and I’ve never had a reply,” Tillman said. 

Being skeptical, Lee couldn’t believe what he was seeing…

“The reply read ‘Oh my God, please tell me this is Lee, I’ve been searching for you for 37 years. This is your middle brother Jim,” Tillman said.

Still hesitant, he asked “Jim” a question only the two brothers would know. 

“I was expecting some vague answer. Something like we were at a ball field in Labelle. But he was able to, I mean he had vivid information,” Tillman said. 

And that was it….

Since then the two have been in constant communication talking on the phone and sending texts to one another. 

But they haven’t seen each other. 

This year, for Thanksgiving, that will change. 

41NBC went with Lee up to Atlanta, as the two brothers planned on reconnecting for the first time in nearly 40 years. 

Lee waited and waited and the welcome section in Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, checking to see when Jim’s flight would land.

So after 37 years and few minutes after his expected arrival time. 

He saw him.

With tears in both brothers eyes, they embraced each other hugging each tightly, making up for nearly 40 years missed together. 

It’s a reunion that Tillman says brings a special meaning to this time of year. 

“It’s a fantastic Thanksgiving,” he said. 

Lee and his brother Jim and spending Thanksgiving and a couple of days together. Their younger brother wasn’t able to make the trip to Georgia.

The three say they plan on spending a lot of quality time together.