Mrs. Mary Frances McKinnon Gillis, age 80, of Douglas, GA passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at Manor House in Douglas, GA following an extended illness. Mrs. Gillis was born on October 20, 1935 in Douglas, GA to the late Micajah J McKinnon and Mary Clee Harper McKinnon. Mrs. Gillis was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Eugene Donald Gillis.
Mrs. Gillis started her career as a fourth grade teacher in the Atlanta area while her husband Donald attended dental school. She also taught school at Citizens Christian Academy after returning to Douglas. As Dr. Gillis’ Dental Practice began to grow, she left her teaching career to become office manager for the dental office until her retirement.
Mrs. Gillis was a member of Carver Baptist Church where she was very active. She taught numerous Sunday School and VBS classes. She also was a member of the Berean Sunday School Class and the choir. She loved serving the Lord and her church and could often be found lending her great organizational skills to various areas in the church. She also cooked supper for Wednesday night services. She was a prior member of the Douglas Exchange Club and an honorary member of the Coffee County Hunting and Fishing Club. The Gillis family, along with family and friends, had a barbeque competition cooking team called the “Smokehouse” and Mrs. Gillis was the chief kitchen organizer.
Mrs. Gillis’ greatest accomplishments were being the mother and grandmother to her family where she taught them the importance of having a relationship with the Lord and serving Him and the importance of family. She left a great legacy to them and will be greatly missed.
Mrs. Gillis is survived by her two daughters: Peggy (Rod) Freeman and Mary Jac (Ashley) Thompson both of Douglas, GA; two sons: Dwayne (Pam) Gillis of Douglas, GA and Don (Gail) Gillis of Ambrose, GA; two sisters: Jean Carol Ussery of Tennessee; Beverly (Ronnie) Meeks of Douglas, GA; two brothers: Donnie (Linda) McKinnon of Texas; Ronnie (Joy) McKinnon of Douglas, GA; Sisters-in-Law Marvelyne (Norman) Fletcher of Douglas, GA; and Bobbie McKinnon of Denton, GA; eleven grandchildren, Jessica (Matt) Baker, Hamp (Emily) Gillis, Grant (Diana) Gillis, Brittany Gillis, Katie Laine Freeman, Landon Freeman, Emily Freeman, Erica Thompson, Denton Thompson, Brooke Merritt and April Maness. Special Friends: Bob and Remah Evans of the Atlanta Area. Four Great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Cecil McKinnon and a grandson Michael Yeager.
In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to CARVER BAPTIST MISSION MEMORIAL FUND, 1080 Kamera Rd., Douglas, Ga. 31535.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 3, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Sims Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 04, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Carver Baptist Church with the Rev. Virlon Griner and the Rev. Philip Corbean officiating. active pallbearers will be Matt Baker, Hamp Gillis, Grant Gillis, Denton Thompson, Landon Freeman and Randy McKinnon.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the Joan Wall Sunday School Class and the Berean Sunday School Class by Grace Hersey. Interment will follow in Carver Baptist Church Cemetery.
Sims Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.