Russell Lipscomb Gilliam, 87, The Villages, FL, passed from this life Thursday, March 5, 2015. He was born in Portsmouth, VA and served his country with distinction as an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a millwright for the Ford Motor Co. and retired after 24 years of service. He had also worked for the U. S. Postal Service.
Russell moved to The Villages from Portsmouth, VA in 2007. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of The Villages, a member of The Villages Sophisticated Gents, The African American Club, The Doric Masonic Lodge of Portsmouth, VA, Portsmouth Redevelopment and was a Deacon of Mt. Hermon Baptist Temple.
Russell leaves his wife Mattie Jean Gilliam, daughter Deborah Gilliam of Coconut Creek, FL, grandson, Phillip Gilliam-Cuffee of Boston, MA, step-children, Karen Chambers of Woodbridge, VA, Kevin Whitfield of Alexandria, VA, Kathy Whitfield of Laurel, MD and Kim Chapman of Houston, TX. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church of The Villages on Monday, March 16, 2015 at 11 a.m. Committal services with military honors will follow in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Fund.
