Alease Reed Gilliam

Sunrise: October 12, 1932 ~ Sunset: September 18, 2026

Alease Reed Gilliam peacefully departed this life on September 18, 2026, after a long and beautiful journey marked by faith, love, service, and devotion to family.

Born in Halifax County, Virginia, Alease was the daughter of Richard and Nannie Reed. Raised in rural Virginia, she learned the values of hard work and perseverance while helping her family on a tobacco farm. She loved learning, especially arithmetic, and throughout her life received numerous certificates and recognitions for her dedicated volunteer service.

Alease devoted much of her professional life to helping and caring for others. She worked as a teacher’s aide in the Baltimore school system and later served as a community health technician in Forsyth County, North Carolina. She retired from Novant Health, but retirement did not end her commitment to serving others. She continued to give generously of her time and talents as an active community volunteer.

At the heart of Alease’s life was her devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Her faith shaped how she lived, served, loved, and cared for others. As the wife of the late Rev. Herman Lee Gilliam Sr., she faithfully served alongside her husband as a First Lady for thirty-eight years, supporting congregations from Florida to Baltimore to New York.

Alease served wherever she was needed—although, as she would readily admit, the choir was not her ministry! Her greatest joys were Sunday School and the Women’s Missionary Council. Gifted in encouragement and discipleship, she also served as a stewardess and faithfully studied and taught the Bible in adult ministry. Her commitment to ministry extended beyond the local church as she served as President of the Philadelphia District Minister Spouses.

Alease’s ministry was not limited to church programs or titles. She had a remarkable gift for listening. Through countless conversations, she offered wisdom, encouragement, honesty, and a safe place for others to share their hearts. Her ability to listen deeply and speak words of wisdom touched the lives of family, friends, church members, and many others God placed in her path.

In her golden years, Alease found joy in the simple things that made life sweet: crossword puzzles, Scrabble, card games, gospel music, and telephone conversations. One of her favorite songs was “Order My Steps.” She also believed in presenting her best self. Her hair and fingernails had to be done, and no morning was quite complete until she had put on her red lipstick.

Alease leaves a rich legacy of faith, family, wisdom, and service.

She leaves to cherish her memory her brother, Freddie Reed; her children, Veroncia Kent; Richard “Leon” Kent II (Karla); Luther Gilliam (Tarah); Tammy Chapman (Johnny); and Clifton Gilliam; ten grandsons; one granddaughter; two great-grandsons; and her beloved uncle, Ural Davis of Albany, New York.

She was also blessed with treasured friendships and special relationships, including Clevette Holbart, Gar Brannon, Adrienne Speas, Meredith Reid, Teraya Paige, and Edith George; her goddaughter, Joyce Dewar; her special soul sister, Lillian Thompson; and the beloved Ledbetter family.

Alease’s life was one of faithful service—to her Lord, her family, her church, and her community. The lessons she taught, the wisdom she shared, the prayers she prayed, and the love she gave will live on through the generations that follow her.

In Lieu of Flowers

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Sunday School Department of St. John C.M.E. Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in honor of Alease’s lifelong love for Christian education and Bible study.

Acknowledgment

The family of Alease Gilliam sincerely appreciates every prayer, call, visit, expression of love, and act of kindness extended to us during this time of loss. The comfort you have given will remain a cherished memory in our hearts. May God richly bless each of you.

We extend special gratitude to Amedisys Hospice, caregivers, and to our St. John C.M.E. Church family, who loved deeply, served faithfully, and showed up consistently. Your presence and care have beautifully reflected Christ’s love to our family.

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

A viewing will be held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Russell Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00noon Friday, October 2, 2026 at St. John CME Church, 350 NW Crawford Place, Winston-Salem, NC 27105. Interment will follow in Gardens of Memory, Walkertown, NC. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 12:00noon on Friday at the Church.