Geraldine Holmes Gilliland, of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, was known as Geri to all who knew and loved her. She was 76 years old when she went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 19, 2014 at 6:08 p.m. She was born on Feb. 10, 1938, in Frostproof, Florida. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior when she was a young girl and lived for Him all of her life. She faithfully worshipped and served in church wherever she lived. She was a member of Cliff Haven Church of God of Prophecy in Sheffield.
She married Robert Norris Gilliland on May 18, 1957, in Adrian, Michigan, and they shared their lives for fifty-seven-and-a-half years. She was a wonderful homemaker who was known for her gift of hospitality and tasty cooking. When her youngest daughter started school, she went to college herself and became a registered nurse. She was employed as the director of nursing at Marion County Nursing Home for 18 years. While there she worked tirelessly to ease the suffering of everyone she encountered. After retirement, she and her husband lived on Wilson Lake where she enjoyed gardening and caring for her grandchildren. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends as a great wife, mother, grandmother, friend, listener, and prayer warrior.
She was preceded in death by her father, James Olger Holmes and Maeattrice Holmes Parker.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Norris Gilliland; two daughters, Vicki Carol Pierce, of Florence, and Lori Ann Roberts, of Muscle Shoals; two sons-in-law, Daniel Gene Pierce and Bryan Kent Roberts; and three grandchildren Elizabeth Pierce Boone, Nicholas Ryan Pierce, and Christina Mei Roberts; and one grandson-in-law, Daniel Excail Boone.
She is also survived by her brother, Thomas J. Holmes, and sister-in-law, Anne Cassel Holmes, who reside in Sheffield. She has two nieces Pamela Holmes Boling, wife of David Boling, and Cheryl Lynn Blackstock, wife of Noah Edward Blackstock. Her grandnieces are Samantha Lynn Blackstock and Anna Nicole Boling and grandnephews are Jake Curtis Blackstock and Christopher David Boling. In addition, she was blessed to have a multitude of family, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Visitation will be today, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cliff Haven Church in Sheffield. Her funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary with Pastor Neal Wright officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Sheffield.
Pallbearers will be Nicholas Pierce, Daniel Boone, Noah Blackstock, David Boling, Jake Blackstock, and Christopher Boling. Dale Pierce will be an honorary pallbearer.
