Ernest M. “Monty” Gilliam was born on March 24, 1944 to Thomas A. Gilliam and Grace Carpenter Gilliam at King’s Daughters Hospital, in Columbia, Tennessee. Monty was a special boy from his early years and loved to tell stories from his younger years, especially relating to his boyhood school friends. His father, Thomas, was a hard worker and taught Monty the value of working hard to provide for his family. Monty was a dutiful son all the years of his mother’s life, insuring that Mrs. Gilliam was always cared for in any way needed.
When Laura Jo Bobo was just 17 years old, she met a young man who was to become the love of her life, Monty Gilliam. They shared many things in common, among them their faith, singing, love of family and most of all their love for each other. They married on May 24, 1970 and all the days of their marriage, Laura recounts that he was a wonderful, loving, faithful husband and a man of integrity. They taught Beginner’s Sunday School Class at 1st Assembly of God Church for over thirty years. He was a man who truly loved God and always served Him and loved people. Laura and he were a perfect match, because they served the Lord together all the days of their married life. Anyone who knew Monty knew how much he loved and treasured Laura, his “Sweetie”.
Monty also loved his community deeply, and was proud of his connections to it. He was a very proud member of the 1962 Class of Columbia Central High School. This was the very 1st class to graduate from the new school on what is now known as Lion Parkway. He was so proud to know that yet another new school is finally to be built for future students of Maury County. Additionally, Monty was an Ambassador for the Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance for the past eleven years. He was honored as the Ambassador of the Year for 2014 for his work in representing our great community and his work in promoting business growth. He was also the Ambassador of the Month many times during his eleven years of service.
Mr. Gilliam was also a vital member of the Williams Funeral Home staff for many years, serving as a funeral director’s assistant. Most recently he oversaw the daily operations of Family Pals (Pet and Animal Loss Service) division of the company, bringing caring and compassion to many families who had experienced the death of a beloved family pet. Monty’s career at Williams actually began when the two local funeral homes operated the ambulance service for the community. He enjoyed relating his experiences driving the hearse as an ambulance and providing care to the community he loved so dearly. He was a plethora of knowledge regarding the history of funeral care in Maury County. He also collected die cast models of antique hearses and ambulances in honor and remembrance of those wonderful days of his younger years.
Another of Monty’s loves were “his boys” the Royal Rangers, at First Assembly of God in Columbia, as well as the Tennessee District. He loved teaching those young boys about Jesus, and providing a fun atmosphere for them to learn. The Rangers teach boys about Jesus as well as real-world scouting type skills that they can use in their lives as grown men. He loved that some of his boys were able to turn the Ranger experience into college scholarships and even begin working with the Rangers themselves upon reaching manhood. Many lives were touched by Monty’s ministry.
Monty and Laura loved to travel together every chance they got. He was an avid Southern Gospel music fan, and surprisingly to many who knew him, he also loved Dixieland jazz and other types of music. Being a Southern Gospel music fan, it was fitting that he was a member of the Southern Gospel Music Association. He made many friends over the years in his work as a radio announcer and advertising salesperson for WXRQ radio. He attended the Southern Gospel Radio Convention annually making friends and meeting many world famous Southern Gospel musicians and entertainers. Many people in the Maury County area were blessed by Monty’s work at the radio station, bringing hope and encouragement through music into their homes and cars.
He loved collecting marbles, knives, die cast cars and western memorabilia. Monty was known around town for serving as “Uncle Sam” for patriotic events and loved giving treats to folks on Memorial Day at Polk Memorial Garden’s annual celebration that were Made in USA.
Mr. Monty Gilliam passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2015 with his loving wife by his side, at his residence in Columbia, Tennessee.
Funeral services for Monty will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Jeremy Godwin, Rev. Ron Bush and Rev. Norman LestarJette officiating. The family will visit with friends on Saturday, June 27, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. also at the funeral home.
Monty is survived by his beloved “Sweetie”: Laura Jo Bobo Gilliam of Columbia; sister-in-law: Barbara Tosh of Columbia; brother-in-law: Eddie Bobo of Columbia; sister-in-law: Eugenia Bobo of Columbia; sister-in-law: Becky Bobo of Smyrna; numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews and cousins; and Aunt Mary Carpenter of Columbia. He was preceded in death by his parents: Thomas and Grace Gilliam; father and mother-in-law: Rufus and Bonnie Bobo; brothers-in-law: Randy and Roger Bobo; and niece: Kristen Eckman.
Mike King, Bill Yancey, Greg Atwell, Matthew King, Bill Sargent, Larry Wanamaker, Bill Reischman and Mark Myers will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be: all Royal Ranger Commanders in the Tennessee District, Employees of Williams Funeral Home Family, Employees of Polk Memorial Gardens, Maury County Chamber and Economic Alliance Ambassadors and Employees, Prime Timers of 1st Assembly of God, men and women of the 483rd AAA Division who served in WWII, Charlie Brennan, Foxy Griffin, Josh Franks, Darryl Shuff, Ed Carpenter, Ed and Nancy Bibb, Brandon Bobo, Steven Bobo, Don and Shirley Myers, Garrick Jones, Joyce Garrett, Billy Ray King, Dr. Reams Powers, Dr. Steven Heffington.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to First Assembly of God Missions Outreach, 907 Nashville Highway, Columbia, Tennessee 38401.
Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements and online condolences may be made at www.williamsfh.com.
