Boyd Cecil Gilliam

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Boyd Cecil Gilliam, 96, a lifelong resident of Maury County, and retired warehouse manager for Charles C Parks Co., died Friday, November 24, 2023 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Jeremy Butt officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with Military Honors provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 3:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. and on Thursday from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Born March September 2, 1927, in Maury County, he was the son of the late George Gilliam and the late Elizabeth Davidson Gilliam. Mr. Gilliam attended Fountain Heights School. During October of 1945, he was drafted and served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps. A short six years later, in October of 1951, he was drafted a second time, serving during the Korean War. At the end of his service in the United States Army Air Corps, he had worked his way up to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his time in the military, he began his career with Charles C Parks Co., where he was employed for over forty years before retiring. Mr. Gilliam was considered an extremely talented athlete and avid baseball player. He was very proud of his 444 batting average and was even recruited by the Milwaukee Braves, but was unable to join since he was still serving in the Air Corps. Mr. Gilliam carried his love for baseball his entire life, and passed on his knowledge through coaching in the farm league and little league in Columbia for many years. He was also a talented golfer, at one point he beat out 3,600 other golfers, and was invited to play in the Shell Invitational at Pebble Beach. On April 3, 1948, he married Lois Ruth Poe, and they shared 75 wonderful years together till her passing on April 15 of this year. Mr. Gilliam was a member of North View Church of Christ and former member of Riverside Church of Christ, where he started attending with his wife in 1957.

Survivors include his son, Jason (Dawn) Gilliam of Columbia; grandchildren, Harrison Gilliam, Macy Gilliam (Tyler Carter), Bo Gilliam; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by seven brothers and two sisters. Active pallbearers will be Frankie Harwell, Kurt Bowers, Roger Gilliam, Jon Pollard, Harrison Gilliam, Bo Gilliam, and Tyler Carter. Honorary pallbearers include Megan Jones, FNP, Virgil Stewart, Eddie Sparkman, Shirley Lynn, Mike Harkins, Mila Rose Brown, and members of North View Church of Christ.