Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameRev. Maurice Holt GILLIAM 
24,143, Obituary Willie Gray ‘Doc’ McKinney Sr.,143, Obituary Connie McKinney Ross,143, Obituary - Emmette Lee McKinney Sr.,3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam,404, Maurice Holt GILLIAM-Male-28 December 1922 – 16 September 2013-•-G13R-KXV
24,143, Obituary Willie Gray ‘Doc’ McKinney Sr.,143, Obituary Connie McKinney Ross,143, Obituary - Emmette Lee McKinney Sr.,3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam,404, Maurice Holt GILLIAM-Male-28 December 1922 – 16 September 2013-•-G13R-KXVBirthDec 28, 1922, Pittsylvania County, Virginia24,3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam
DeathSep 16, 2013, N. C. State Vererans Home, Fayetteville, North Carolina3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam
BurialNew Hope Baptist Church, 252 Rough and Ready Road, Whiteville, Columbus County, North Carolina3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam
FlagsUS Army-Air Force, World War II
FatherLawrence Holt GILLIAM (1894-1979)
MotherStella BOYD (1899-1987)
Spouses
1Stella Leath McKINNEY 24,143, Obituary Willie Gray ‘Doc’ McKinney Sr.,143, Obituary - Emmette Lee McKinney Sr.,3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam,470, Mrs Stella McKinney Gilliam
24,143, Obituary Willie Gray ‘Doc’ McKinney Sr.,143, Obituary - Emmette Lee McKinney Sr.,3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam,470, Mrs Stella McKinney GilliamBirthAug 13, 1924, Reidsville, Rockingham County, North Carolina24,470, Mrs Stella McKinney Gilliam
DeathFeb 14, 2017, Lumberton, Robeson County, North Carolina470, Mrs Stella McKinney Gilliam
BurialNew Hope Baptist Church, 252 Rough and Ready Road, Whiteville, Columbus County, North Carolina470, Mrs Stella McKinney Gilliam
FatherJessie David McKINNEY (1884-1967)
Mother“Mamie” Mary Ellen SOMERS (1883-1962)
Marriageabt 19433, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam
Obituary Online notes for Rev. Maurice Holt GILLIAM
9/19/2013
The Rev. Maurice Gilliam
WHITEVILLE — The Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam passed away on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, at the N.C. State Veterans Home in Fayetteville.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in Pittsylvania County, Va., the son of Lawrence Holt Gilliam and Stella Boyd Hicks. Maurice grew up on the family farm in Rockingham County and graduated from Reidsville High School in 1941. He was drafted in 1943, and proudly served as a tail gunner on a B-24 in the 450th Bomb Group, 15th Army Air Force, during World War II. He flew 50 combat missions out of Italy, which inspired the book about his crew, “Shadow: A Cottontail Bomber Crew in WWII.”
After the war, he graduated from Campbell College and Wake Forest College. In 1957, he graduated from Southeastern Theological Baptist Seminary at Wake Forest.
He then served as a Baptist minister in numerous congregations throughout the state for nearly 50 years, including East Erwin Baptist Mission, Woodland Baptist Church in Wake Forest, Hiddenite Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, Hallsboro Baptist Church and Iron Hill Baptist Church. He also served as an interim pastor at numerous churches in his retirement.
Rev. Gilliam was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor and friend. He loved God and had a special gift for preaching and spreading the Gospel. Left to cherish his memory and witness for Christ are his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Stella McKinney
Gilliam; his sister, Gayle Gilliam Sutton of Elon College; his son, Larry Maurice Gilliam, and his wife Katrina of Whiteville; his daughter, Kay Gilliam Warner, and her husband, David, of Simi Valley, Calif.; four grandchildren, Dr. Karen Gilliam Raiford, and her husband Neil of Brownsboro, Ala., Michael Warren Gilliam of Whiteville, Dr. Kimberly Warner Alfano, and her husband Mark, of Ventura, Calif., and Anthony Brian Warner, of Simi Valley, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Hunter Raiford, Thomas Holt Raiford, Turner Cheyney Raiford, and Isabella Camille Alfano.
His funeral service will be conducted Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, 11 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Whiteville, by the Rev. Kenny Byrd. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Peacock Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to www.peacockfuneralhome.net .
Memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church. 3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam
The Rev. Maurice Gilliam
WHITEVILLE — The Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam passed away on Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, at the N.C. State Veterans Home in Fayetteville.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1922, in Pittsylvania County, Va., the son of Lawrence Holt Gilliam and Stella Boyd Hicks. Maurice grew up on the family farm in Rockingham County and graduated from Reidsville High School in 1941. He was drafted in 1943, and proudly served as a tail gunner on a B-24 in the 450th Bomb Group, 15th Army Air Force, during World War II. He flew 50 combat missions out of Italy, which inspired the book about his crew, “Shadow: A Cottontail Bomber Crew in WWII.”
After the war, he graduated from Campbell College and Wake Forest College. In 1957, he graduated from Southeastern Theological Baptist Seminary at Wake Forest.
He then served as a Baptist minister in numerous congregations throughout the state for nearly 50 years, including East Erwin Baptist Mission, Woodland Baptist Church in Wake Forest, Hiddenite Baptist Church, New Hope Baptist Church, Central Baptist Church in Spruce Pine, Hallsboro Baptist Church and Iron Hill Baptist Church. He also served as an interim pastor at numerous churches in his retirement.
Rev. Gilliam was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, pastor and friend. He loved God and had a special gift for preaching and spreading the Gospel. Left to cherish his memory and witness for Christ are his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Stella McKinney
Gilliam; his sister, Gayle Gilliam Sutton of Elon College; his son, Larry Maurice Gilliam, and his wife Katrina of Whiteville; his daughter, Kay Gilliam Warner, and her husband, David, of Simi Valley, Calif.; four grandchildren, Dr. Karen Gilliam Raiford, and her husband Neil of Brownsboro, Ala., Michael Warren Gilliam of Whiteville, Dr. Kimberly Warner Alfano, and her husband Mark, of Ventura, Calif., and Anthony Brian Warner, of Simi Valley, Calif.; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Hunter Raiford, Thomas Holt Raiford, Turner Cheyney Raiford, and Isabella Camille Alfano.
His funeral service will be conducted Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, 11 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Whiteville, by the Rev. Kenny Byrd. Burial with military honors will be in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Peacock Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made to www.peacockfuneralhome.net .
Memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church. 3, Rev. Maurice Holt Gilliam