RCGilliam

  RC Gilliam, 87, of Celeste died early in the morning hours of May 27, 2008, in Briarcliff Health Center. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Randy Daw and Randy Rather officiating. Burial is in Celeste Cemetery. Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.The son of William Eclick and Bessie Lee Green Gilliam, he was born April 30,1921, in Bonham. On Nov. 30, 1946, he married Billie Guy Robinson in Leonard. Mr. Gilliam served as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He worked as a lead aircraft mechanic for Temco/LTV. Mr. Gilliam also worked for the Greenville Independent School District and later for Automatic Gas where he held the top salesman title for many years. He also raised cattle and did some crop farming. Mr. Gilliam was a longtime member of the Celeste Church of Christ and, later, Johnson Street Church of Christ in Greenville. He owned and operated The Opry House in Celeste for 21 years.Surviving are his wife of Celeste; two sons, Tim Gilliam and wife Vicki of Celeste and Ryon Gilliam and wife Melanie of Greenville; two daughters, Marsha Godwin and husband Larry and Janet Gilliam, all of Celeste; a sister, Ruby Neely of Garland; grandchildren Darron Godwin, Jared Godwin, Timothy Jerl Gilliam, Marcy Godwin Burch, Brandon Gilliam, Nicky Gilliam, Joe Ben Gilliam, Cole Gilliam and Austin Gilliam; and 10 great-grandchildren..He was preceded in death by his mother in 1966; his father in 1973; sisters Autha Ruff in 1973, Delene Blackshear in 2000 and Violet Gilliam; and a brother, Clyde Benjamin Gilliam. Pallbearers are Phil Barker, Roger Claxton, Wiley Easley, Steve Lattimer, Doug Milton, Lt. Col. Greg Ray, Ron Saye and Brian Sudderth. Carl Ray, Richard Timby and elders of Johnson Street Church of Christ will be honorary pallbearers.