 Lillie was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.Brought up in Ralph, Lillie attended the University of Alabama, in the 1986 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships Lillie captured the 400-m title with a 1st-place finish in an indoor collegiate record-setting time of 51.23s.She was also the National Champion in the 400-meter dash at the 1985 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, with a time of 53.12 seconds.