Doris Virginia Gunn Gilliam was born May 15, 1929 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was the oldest of six children and educated in the city public school system, graduating with the Atkins High School class of 1947.

After high school, Doris began her educational goals to become a teacher at Winston-Salem Teachers College (WSSU). She had four active years as a student, wife and working mother while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1951. She continued her educational pursuits earning a Master's Degree from North Carolina A & T University. Doris remained a generous financial supporter of both Alumni Associations.

In the early 1950s Doris taught primary grades in Edenton, North Carolina. She became a teacher of children with special needs in the Winston-Salem Public Schools in 1958 working at Mebane and Easton Elementary schools where she was determined to make a positive difference in the lives of her students. Doris retired in 1991 after 40 years of dedicated service. After retirement she worked on several volunteer projects.

Doris was an active and lifelong member of St. Paul United Methodist Church. She started attending church with her grandmother, mother and other family members accepting Christ at an early age. Doris taught Sunday school for several years and participated in other activities using her creative skills. She loved making lap quilts with members of Grace Presbyterian Church called "The Quilters at Grace" with friends Emma Penn, Billie Matthews and others.

Finding it difficult to remain idle during the spring and summer months, Doris loved working in her garden. She took great pride in her beautiful, colorful yard work which was ongoing. During the fall and winter seasons, she would create notecards from dollar bills designed like flowers and shirts which she gave to family and friends on special occasions.

In her many travels and travels of friends and family, Doris began collecting spoons from each state in the USA and most of the countries throughout the world. She enjoyed visiting her beloved brothers and their families in Georgia, Ohio and Michigan sharing her collection of quarters and silver dollars to be given to their grandchildren. Doris tried her best to get them involved in her "Collection Hobbies" which was her passion.

The pride of Doris' life was her deceased son, Herman Gilliam Jr. a retired professional NBA basketball player. However, her grandsons, Jai, a doctor and Riki, an educator became the loves of her life as she watched them become men, husbands, and fathers to her precious great-granddaughters, Jordyn, Jadyn and Averie.
The Janus Youth Program, Herm Gilliam Memorial Golf Tournament for Kids was Doris' favorite charity. She was a staunch supporter of this annual event to honor her only child which has raised thousands of dollars on behalf of children in Portland, Oregon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Liddo Benjamin and Willie Katherine Gunn, a sister, Anita Gunn Martin and her beloved son, Herman Gilliam Jr.

On Monday, June 1, 2015, Doris Virginia Gunn Gilliam peacefully made her transition. She leaves to cherish fond memories her grandsons, Jai Herman Gilliam (Erin) of Lexington, KY and Riki Jamil Gilliam (Crystal) of Atlanta, GA; three brothers, Eugene Gunn (Geraldine) of Columbus, Ohio, Alton B. Gunn (Decie) of Detroit, MI, William H. Gunn (Marlene) of Stone Mountain, GA; a sister, Mary E. Bitting of Winston-Salem, NC; three great-granddaughters, Jordyn, Jadyn and Averie Gilliam; a lifetime of special memories will be shared by her 10 nieces and nephews, Michael (Angie), Michelle, and Bernard Gunn, Gwendolyn Johnson and Vickie Durham (Jeffry) of Columbus, Ohio; Karen Gunn Dozier (Reginald) and Alton Gunn Jr. of Detroit, MI; Christopher Gunn (Linda) of Indianapolis, IN; Brian Bitting of Atlanta , GA and Jamille Bitting of Wilmington, NC; a special cousin, Norman Hunt; her God-daughter, Wanda Nichols; and other relatives and friends who will dearly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30am Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. The family visitation will be held from 11:00am until 11:30am on Saturday at the Chapel.