Blonnie M. Gilliam

Blonnie Mae Yelverton Gilliam was born to the late Clinton and Mertie Yelverton on December 4, 1935, in Green County, North Carolina. On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, she peacefully transitioned from this life to her eternal home in glory. Blonnie Mae received her formal education in Green County Public Schools. She attended church and accepted Christ at a young age while in Green County. She married John Frank Gilliam in 1959 and they relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1961. Blonnie Mae was a homemaker, enjoyed cooking, taking care of her home and family. She knew the importance of a relationship with Christ and after her move to Baltimore, joined the Second Mount Olive Freewill Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Bishop Leo K. Caesar. She later joined the St. John Christian Community Church and served on the Missionary Board where the pastor was the late Reverend Tommie Jenkins Sr. She remained in service there until her health began to fail. God’s grace raised her up to spend her last years at God’s Will Apostolic Ministries, led by Pastor Charles Bennett; where she served on the Church’s Mothers’ Board. Blonnie Mae was caring, nurturing and hospitable. She never met anyone that was a stranger and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Her house was filled with her children and the children of many others. She devoted her life and love to the 10 children she called her own: Earl, Joyce, Ann, Mary, John (June), Paul (Koddie), Sabrina (Toto) and Lamont. Children Cheryl and Frankie preceded her in death. Cooking was a favorite past time and she was known for her chicken and dumplings. Her home was her pride and joy and each holiday she changed her décor to reflect the season. She looked forward to spending time with her children for holidays and on her birthday, but everyone knew they had better not forget the gift. She loved to entertain, get dressed to the nine’s and she never forgot to add the red lipstick that matched her flaming red hair. She loved the Motown sound, with her favorites being, Al Green, Otis Redding and the Righteous Brothers. Her faithful friends and hanging buddies were her niece, Fennie, Margaret, Willie and the late Mary Ross. As her health began to fail, she never complained and would always say, “Thank God and Thank you”. When she could no longer come and go as she pleased, she still held onto the things that were sacred to her – her love for the Lord, her love for her children and her beautiful red hair, which she entrusted to her son in law, Joseph Payton, to maintain. Blonnie Mae was cared for by all, but her grandchildren, Connie and Marvin Randall, along with daughter and son in law, Mary and Joseph Payton devoted their lives to making sure she was comfortable and that she enjoyed her "golden years". Connie and Marvin shared their home with "Grandma", and partnered with Mary and Joseph to allow her to want for nothing, loving and caring for her dearly until the end. During the later years of her life, she became an avid traveler. She traveled to Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas and Florida with her family. She took her last trip on Tuesday, when she went to her eternal rest - home to see her Savior and Lord. Preceding her in death are: Husband, John Frank Gilliam; Children, Cheryl and Frankie Gilliam; Sisters, Marjorie Wade and Virginia Mae Joyner; brothers: Clinton Jr., Roy Lee and Brodous Yelverton. She leaves to cherish her memory: children, Earl (Deborah), Joyce, Patricia Ann, Mary (Joseph), John, Paul, Sabrina and Lamont; goddaughter, Temmera Ross; sisters, Sarah Yelverton of Baltimore, MD, Eloise Sneed of Snow Hill, NC., Minnie Hardy (Melvin) of Goldsboro, NC; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Speight of Standtonsburg, NC, Tinie Yelverton of Newark, NJ and Barbara Gilliam of Washington, DC; brothers-in- law, Andrew Gilliam of Standtonsburg, NC and Milton Hill of Newark, NJ; aunt, Bessie Mae Yelverton of NC and twenty-nine grandchildren, forty great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friend

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Blonnie M. Gilliam

December 4, 1935 - March 24, 2015