James Gilliam - 1960

James Elgean Gilliam Jr., 13, Coleman Junior High School student, died of leukemia Friday at 10:15 p.m. at the family residence. He had been ill for about four months.  Young Gilliam, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Elgean Gilliam was born in Brownwood July 1, 1947. He was a member of the eighth grade class at Junior High School, a Boy Scout, and a member of Liberty Baptist Church near Santa Anna. His father is a teacher in South Ward School.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Gilliam of Coleman; one brother, Dale Gilliam; three grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Gilliam of Coleman and Mrs. Jewell Powers of Bangs; and a great-grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Horton of Coleman.  Also surviving are an uncle, Sammie Powers of Bangs and two aunts, Mrs. James Stephenson of Leaday and Sandra Gilliam of Abilene.

Funeral services were held at Stevens Memorial Chapel Sunday, December 4, at 2:00 p.m.  Officiating minister, Dr. A. J. Quinn of Howard Payne College was assisted by Rev. Charles Gossett of Liberty Baptist Church.  Pallbearers were Charles Jetton, Bill Yung, Dwayne Turner, Harold Woodard, Billy Bartley, all Coleman coaches and James Glenn of Abilene, former Coleman coach.  Interment was in Coleman city cemetery with Stevens Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.  (Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice, Coleman, Texas, December 1960.)

(Note from the CHS Alumni Web Master:  I have included James Gilliam in the Class of 1965 even though he did not attend high school.  There is no doubt he would have been with us at CHS, had he not died so young.)