Ralph Carlton Gilliam

Ralph Carlton Gilliam, 88, church of Christ minister and retired butcher, died Thursday, June 30, 2016 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 3:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Jeremy Butt officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Almaville Church of Christ, 7700 Almaville Road, Arrington, TN 37014. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the son of the late Carl Eugene "Riley" Gilliam and the late Virginia Derryberry Carpenter. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. While he was an avid football fan and loved politics, his true passion in life was being a minister. He was current minister of Almaville Church of Christ; and through the years, he ministered several churches of Christ, including Pinewood, Bellshire, Brown's Chapel, Taylor Town, and East Cheatham. He was a very devoted husband, father and grandfather. Survivors include his wife of sixty-seven years, Mildred Green Gilliam whom he married December 12, 1948; daughter, Gwen Martindale of Nashville; grandchildren, Shane (Jennifer) Gilliam of Clemmons, North Carolina, Clarenda Moore of Antioch, Joseph Moore of Nashville; great grandchildren, Jackson Gilliam, Cameron Gilliam, Savannah Gilliam, Kayla Brice, Krysta Brice; sister-in-law, Margaret Gilliam of Fairview; step-mother, Ella Parrish Gilliam of Columbia; and half-sisters, Janice Fetner of Nashville; Carline Bell and Patty (Stan) Farris, both of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a son, Ralph Dennison Gilliam; son-in-law, Ben Martindale; grandson, Dalton Shane Gilliam; and brothers, Freddie Don Gilliam, Dennison Gilliam, and James Carpenter. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Almaville Church of Christ.