Delbert R. Gilliam

Delbert R. Gilliam of Midland City and Panama City Beach, Fla., passed away Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at his residence after an extended illness. He was 81. Funeral services will be Friday at New Life Church at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Keener Batchelor officiating. Full military honors will be rendered at Sunset Memorial Park immediately following the services. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at New Life Church on Park Ave. In lieu of flowers memorials in Mr. Gilliams memory may be made to New Life Church, 964 North Park Ave. Dothan, AL 36303. Mr. Gilliam was born on March 18, 1926, in Parkin, Ark., and lived the early years of his life in Rossville, Ga. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in WWII in the pacific theater. Mr. Gilliam served for over 21 years of active duty prior to his retirement from the service in 1965. He was later employed with Sikorsky at Fort Rucker as a helicopter inspector for 21 years until his second retirement in 1989. He moved to Panama City and resided there for 15 years until moving to the Dothan area in 2006. Mr. Gilliam was a member of the New Life Church, the local chapter of the VFW, and the American Legion. Survivors include his wife Martha Gilliam of Midland City; a son, Stephen Gilliam of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter, Carol Cochran of Panama City Beach; grandchildren, Heather Gilliam, Courtney McKinney, Pat Green; brothers, Ronnie Gilliam of Scottsboro, Donald Gilliam of Scottsboro; sisters, Marie Dicus of Scottsboro, Jean Miller of Scottsboro, Sadie Mae Garrison of Scottsboro and Glenda Young of Arab. Serving as active pallbearers will be Jerry Pilcher, Jerry Lynch, Dave Evans, Terry Verhine and Pat Perault. Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park, Funeral Home and Crematory of Dothan, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements.