Evelyn J. Gilliam

Angier – Evelyn J. Gilliam, 86, passed away peacefully at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield on Sunday. Born in Franklin County, she was the daughter of the late James William Ashley Jenkins and Louise Wood Jenkins.

After graduating from Campbell College, Evelyn worked as the secretary at Angier Baptist Church, where she was a long-time member. She also worked for many years at Cape Fear Farm Credit in Lillington until her retirement. She was an active member at Angier Baptist, singing in the choir for 20 years, was a member of the Golden Gems, and she served on various committees within the church. Evelyn loved her church family very much.

Evelyn was known to her family and friends for her love of cooking and baking delicious and beautifully decorated cakes. She also loved her porcelain dolls, which a lot of them she made herself. Evelyn loved reading, working in the garden, canning vegetables, knitting, and cross-stitching.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, August 15th at Angier Baptist Church. The burial will follow at Lakeside Memorial Gardens, Angier. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:30 to 12:45 PM at the church.

Evelyn is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Hersel Gilliam; sons, Randy Gilliam (Sandra) of Angier, Ashley K. Gilliam (Mary Macon) of Angier; sisters, Becky Griffin (Warren) of Castalia, and Sue LeNeave of Hammond, IN.; grandchildren, Matthew Gilliam of Angier, Elizabeth Jeffries (Dylan) of Coats, Kenneth Gilliam (Callie) of Coats, and Joshua Gilliam of Angier; great-grandchildren, Lawson Gilliam and Liam Jeffries.

In addition to her parents, Evelyn was preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Curtis LeNeave.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Angier Baptist Church, P.O. Box 130 Angier, NC 27501 in memory of Evelyn.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She will be missed dearly.

The family would like to particularly thank the wonderful staff at Bella Rose and Green Leaf Care Centers as well as SECU Hospice House for their wonderful care of Evelyn during the past several months of her life.