Laforest Gilliam

Laforest Gilliam, Sr, the youngest of eight children born to Pearl and the late Cecil L. Gilliam, was born on May 7, 1957 in Baltimore, Maryland. Laforest was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System where he graduated from Edmondson High School in 1975. He attended the Community College of Baltimore where he majored in Recreation Education.Laforest was a very warm and fun loving person. He was always making people laugh and was a joy to be around. He was gifted with musical talent, and during his childhood he and his brother, Michael, were known for their “Temptation style” singing and dance steps, and they were participants in several talent shows. A talented singer, as well as dancer, he always sang lead. During his high school days, he enjoyed sports and participated in athletic activities.Laforest accepted Jesus as his Lord and personal Savior in 1966 at Community Baptist Church of Walbrook, where he was baptized. In 1985, Laforest married his high school sweetheart, Evelyn Lorce Cunningham. To this union was born their son, Laforest, Jr. Laforest, Sr. joined the St. Phillips Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school and sang on the choir. He was ordained as a Deacon at St. Phillips Baptist Church in December 1987. Laforest rededicated his life to the Lord and joined Calvary Baptist Church in 2003, where he began training as a new members’ class teacher and sang on the Voices of Calvary Choir.Quietly, the Lord called Laforest home on Saturday, January 24, 2004. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn. He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted mother, Pearl Gilliam; sons Taymond Cunningham and Laforest Gilliam, Jr.; four brothers, Cecil Gilliam of Knoxville, Tennessee, Timothy Gilliam and Charles Gilliam of Baltimore, Maryland, and Michael Gilliam of Bowie, Maryland; three sisters, Diana Watson of Laurel, Maryland, Caroline Grant and Patricia Sweet of Baltimore, Maryland; father-in-law, William Kenneth Foster; mother-in-law, Mary Foster; four sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and a host of nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Laforest Gilliam

May 7, 1957 - January 24, 2004