1945
Joyce
2004
Joyce E. Gillis
October 28, 1945 — December 3, 2004
Joyce Elaine Gray Gillis, 59, of Rock Island, Illinois was called home by God, Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of all things on Friday, December 3, while she slept.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1222 7th Avenue, Moline, Illinois on December 9th with visitation and viewing of the remains one hour prior to the service. The wake will be held December 8th from 6pm to 8pm at Esterdahl's Funeral Home, 6601 38th avenue, Moline, Illinois. Committal of her earthly body will be at Chippiannock Cementary, Rock Island. Esterdahl's Mortuary Ltd is handling the arrangements.
Joyce E. Gillis was born October 28, 1945 in Marion, Indiana. The daughter of Mr. James Clarence Grays and Mrs. S. Marie Cole-Gray. She graduated from Moline High School in Moline, Illinois in 1963. She married Dr. David H. Gillis of Middletown, Ohio. She graduated from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio with a B.A. Degree in Sociology and Psychology in 1967. In 1972, she received her M.A. Degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio as a Reading Specialist. She attended Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee; BlackHawk College in Moline, Illinois and MaryCrest College in Davenport, Iowa during which she acquired 45 hours above her Masters Degree with areas of focus in education, speech pathology, and psychology. Mrs. Gillis worked approximately 30 years in the Rock Island School District in several capacities such as Teacher of English, Literature, Reading, Title 1 Reading and Psychology at various grade levels. She began her teaching career in Hamilton, Ohio at the elemenatary level. She worked 3 years in the Nashville-Davidson County School District in Nashville, Tennessee. She assisted and implemented a pre-school program in the Middletown School District, Middletown, Ohio where she also substituted as a teacher while working on her Masters Degree.
She confessed her belief in God at an early age at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Moline where she was a member all of her life and held a variety of positions and duties at various times such as Steward, Trustee, Missionary Worker, Sunday School Teacher, cook, dishwasher, choir member, and fundraiser. She studied biblically with Pastor Arnold Murray on Shepherd's Chapel and RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan, almost daily. She enjoyed learning, teaching, reading, singing, dancing, music, traveling, and doing geneology.
Surviving family members include: Daughters, Jonnea Marie Gillis of Moline, Illinois, Dr. Jacinta Irene Gillis of East Moline Illinois; A son, William David Gillis of East Moline, Illinois; Three grandchildren, Malachi James Robinson-Gillis, Ja'Cara Elaine Gillis, and Jalen Henry Gillis-Ganaway; Sisters, Mrs. Suella Johnson of Springfield, Illinois, Ms. June Harris of Detroit Michigan, Ms. Earline Lee of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Alberta Free of Detroit, Michigan; A brother, Hudson Harris of Davenport, Iowa; Brother-in-laws, Joseph Otis Davis of Chicago, Illinois, Dail Rice of Rock Island, Illinois,Coolidge Johnson of Springfield, Illinois, Jesse Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, James Clarence Grays and S. Marie Cole-Gray-Harris; Stepfather, Hudson Harris; Maternal grandparents, Talton and Anna Cole; Paternal grandparents, Amos and Lela Gray; Step-paternal grandparents, Neil and Gertrude Harris; Sisters, Yvonne Johnson, Hysonja Harris Davis, Jo Ann Harris, and Oleva Calvert Rice; Sister-in-law, Rose Hunter Harris; Surrogate parents, Aunt Johnie Mae and Uncle Matthew Parker Sr., plus many additional beloved relatives and friends.
All memorials are to be made to St. Paul A.M.E. Church in lew of flowers to exemplify the love God has for us and to assist in the spread of the Good News regarding gods gift to us so that all might be saved. "A thanks goes to all who touched my life as I scurried through with both hands in God's hands and he directing the way." J.E.G.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1222 7th Avenue, Moline, Illinois on December 9th with visitation and viewing of the remains one hour prior to the service. The wake will be held December 8th from 6pm to 8pm at Esterdahl's Funeral Home, 6601 38th avenue, Moline, Illinois. Committal of her earthly body will be at Chippiannock Cementary, Rock Island. Esterdahl's Mortuary Ltd is handling the arrangements.
Joyce E. Gillis was born October 28, 1945 in Marion, Indiana. The daughter of Mr. James Clarence Grays and Mrs. S. Marie Cole-Gray. She graduated from Moline High School in Moline, Illinois in 1963. She married Dr. David H. Gillis of Middletown, Ohio. She graduated from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio with a B.A. Degree in Sociology and Psychology in 1967. In 1972, she received her M.A. Degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio as a Reading Specialist. She attended Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee; BlackHawk College in Moline, Illinois and MaryCrest College in Davenport, Iowa during which she acquired 45 hours above her Masters Degree with areas of focus in education, speech pathology, and psychology. Mrs. Gillis worked approximately 30 years in the Rock Island School District in several capacities such as Teacher of English, Literature, Reading, Title 1 Reading and Psychology at various grade levels. She began her teaching career in Hamilton, Ohio at the elemenatary level. She worked 3 years in the Nashville-Davidson County School District in Nashville, Tennessee. She assisted and implemented a pre-school program in the Middletown School District, Middletown, Ohio where she also substituted as a teacher while working on her Masters Degree.
She confessed her belief in God at an early age at St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Moline where she was a member all of her life and held a variety of positions and duties at various times such as Steward, Trustee, Missionary Worker, Sunday School Teacher, cook, dishwasher, choir member, and fundraiser. She studied biblically with Pastor Arnold Murray on Shepherd's Chapel and RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan, almost daily. She enjoyed learning, teaching, reading, singing, dancing, music, traveling, and doing geneology.
Surviving family members include: Daughters, Jonnea Marie Gillis of Moline, Illinois, Dr. Jacinta Irene Gillis of East Moline Illinois; A son, William David Gillis of East Moline, Illinois; Three grandchildren, Malachi James Robinson-Gillis, Ja'Cara Elaine Gillis, and Jalen Henry Gillis-Ganaway; Sisters, Mrs. Suella Johnson of Springfield, Illinois, Ms. June Harris of Detroit Michigan, Ms. Earline Lee of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Alberta Free of Detroit, Michigan; A brother, Hudson Harris of Davenport, Iowa; Brother-in-laws, Joseph Otis Davis of Chicago, Illinois, Dail Rice of Rock Island, Illinois,Coolidge Johnson of Springfield, Illinois, Jesse Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, James Clarence Grays and S. Marie Cole-Gray-Harris; Stepfather, Hudson Harris; Maternal grandparents, Talton and Anna Cole; Paternal grandparents, Amos and Lela Gray; Step-paternal grandparents, Neil and Gertrude Harris; Sisters, Yvonne Johnson, Hysonja Harris Davis, Jo Ann Harris, and Oleva Calvert Rice; Sister-in-law, Rose Hunter Harris; Surrogate parents, Aunt Johnie Mae and Uncle Matthew Parker Sr., plus many additional beloved relatives and friends.
All memorials are to be made to St. Paul A.M.E. Church in lew of flowers to exemplify the love God has for us and to assist in the spread of the Good News regarding gods gift to us so that all might be saved. "A thanks goes to all who touched my life as I scurried through with both hands in God's hands and he directing the way." J.E.G.
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