Neal M. Gillis, Sr.

  Mr. Neal M. Gillis, Sr., 81, of Waycross, passed away Sunday afternoon, September 22, 2019, at  his residence following a lengthy illness.

  He was born in Telmore, GA on March 17, 1938, and lived most of his life in Ware County where he graduated from Waresboro High School. He obtained an Associates Degree from the University of Georgia's off campus facility in Waycross. Neal served his country in the United States Army and the Army Reserves from 1961 until 1968. 

He was an excellent woodsman and timber manager having owned and operated Gillis Farm & Timber, Gillis Land Company, and Gillis Nursery. He was a member of the Newbern Baptist Church. Bitten by the travel bug he had visited many locations around the world such as Mexico and Greece. Neal was a real jokester and enjoyed pulling pranks on his family. His love of fishing and the beach was only overshadowed by his love for his family. He was a faithful, loving husband to Millicent for 57 years.

  Neal was a son of Nathaniel L. and Olga Dunlap Gillis. He was also preceded in death by his son Neal Marshall Gillis, II; two sisters, Sarah Scott and Natalie Minchew;  and all three of his brothers, Jimmy Gillis, Jack Gillis, and Johnny Gillis.

  Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Millicent DeShazo Gillis of Waycross; his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa M. Gillis (Chandler) Vreeland of Powder Springs, GA;  two grandchildren, Aaron (Haley) Gillis of Waycross and Neal Marshall Gillis, III  (Christa Foreman) of Jacksonville;   two sisters, Myra Rouse of Washington, NC, and Joyce (Bill) Schofill of Helen, GA; a sister-in-law, Wannell Gillis of Waycross; a brother-in-law Laddie Scott of Athens, GA; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

  Funeral services for Mr. Gillis will be held Saturday morning, September 28, 2019, at 11 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Funeral Home Chapel.

  Entombment will be in the Greenlawn Cemetery Mausoleum.

  Visitation for Mr. Gillis will be held Friday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.

  Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

  The family would like to thank  the nurses of Heartland Hospice; the aides of Coastal Home Care of Waycross, and the aides of ResCare Home Care Services for their wonderful care of Neal in his time of need.

  Pearson-Dial Funeral Home, Inc. of Blackshear is in charge of the arrangements.

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