JOE DENNIS GILLIAM
Atoka, TN: Joe Dennis ‘ Pete ‘ Gilliam, age 76, passed away August 04, 2012 at the Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.
He was born and reared in Henderson, TN the son of the late Richard Oliver and Mary F. Wasburn Gilliam. He graduated from Chester County High School in 1954 . He lived most of his adult life in Memphis where he worked as a chemical operator for Velsicol Chemical Company and then for Buckman Laboratories from where he retired. He served in the Tennessee National Guard for eight years. He was an avid University of Tennessee fan and enjoyed playing golf for many years.
He is survived by two son; Keith Gilliam of Germantown, TN and Kevin Gilliam of Broken Arrow, OK and three daughters; Kellye Copes of Vicksburg, MS, Kathy Dye of Clinton, MS and Paulette Patterson of Houston, TX, two brothers; Bennie Gilliam of Lexington, TN and Oliver Gilliam, Jr. of Union City, TN, a sister Edna Faye Newman of Green Cove Springs, FL, nine grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother; Harrod Gilliam and four sisters; Inez Gilliam, Vernell Barham, Lucille Morris and Jewell Hearn.