Carl Alvin Dillard was born November 25, 1953, in Memphis, Tennessee; he was the son of Carl and Doris Dillard.

Carl graduated from Hamilton High School in 1971. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1975 as a radioman on the U.S.S. Midway in Japan. Afterward, he attended Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, New York, majoring in communications, radio, and television, graduating in 1980. He also attended Syracuse University from 1981-1983.

Utilizing his communications skills, he worked for various companies, notably the Oakland Athletics Baseball Club and Oakland Raiders Football Team from 1983 to 1990. He also enjoyed working for WMC-TV from 1994-2017.

In 1990, he wed Rita Dockery and was blessed with two children, Brandon Dillard and Camille Dillard.

On October 7, 2023, Carl went home to be with the Lord. He is survived by two brothers, James Edgar Dillard of Pensacola, Florida, and Paul Anthony Dillard (Lisa); his aunt, Aunt Ivy Cummings (Edgar); cousins, Mary Ann Thomas of Las Vegas, Nevada, Carmen Denvir of Kansas City, Missouri, Michael Cummings (Enola) of Houston, Texas, Torris Cummings, Wendell Cummings, Gary Cummings (Rhonda), Tony Cummings, Allan Cummings, Kevin Cummings, Cathy Humbert (Isaiah), Sylvia Cummings of Houston, Texas, Charmel Cummings, Josephine Lewis of Covington, Georgia, Stephanie Eggleston, and Kimberley Thomas-Mack; nephews and nieces, James Dillard (Lolita) of Vacaville, California, Dayna Dillard, Erika Dillard, Paul Dillard II, Devan Dillard (Brittany) of Spring Hill, Tennessee, Lauren Marve-Samuel (Christopher) of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Bria Dillard; four brothers-in-law, Reginald Dockery, Russell Dockery, Eric Dockery and Alvin Dockery of Memphis, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Iris Dockery; and a host of other family and friends.

The family will receive friends Friday, October 27, 2023 from 5:00pm-7:00pm. Celebration of Life will be Saturday, October 28, 2023 11:00am both will be held at Hills Chapel Missionary Baptist Church 1167 Charles Bryan Rd, Cordova, TN 38018

Internment will be Monday, October 30, 2023 10:00am at West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 4000 Forest Hill Irene Road, Memphis, TN 38125