Wilma Gilliland Merrell

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Wilma Gilliland Merrell, age 94, resident of Cleveland, TN, passed away Monday, June 16, 2008, in a local healthcare center. Affectionately known as The Peach Lady , she was one of the founders of Gillilands Peach Orchard. She was a member of Westwood Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher for 25 years. She had been attending Michigan Ave. Baptist Church for the past 5 years. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Clee R. C.R. Gilliland, her second husband, Truit Merrell and her parents, Melton and Jane Kinser Coleman.

She is survived by two sons and daughters in law, John and Alma Jean Gilliland and Robert and Joan Gilliland, all of Cleveland; two daughters and son in law, Jane Giles, Watkinsville, GA and Sally and Eddie Cole, Carrollton, GA; one sister, Jean Clark, Cleveland, TN; 12 grandchildren, Lu Ann Carey, Jane Flowers, Lyn Dixon, David Giles, Sally Giles, Susan Cruz, Klee Kleber, Joe Kleber, Lolly Hendricks, Amy Newman, Mendy Hagler and Charley Gilliland; 14 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. Special caring friends, Maxine, Mary, Peggy and Dorothy.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 19, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Victor Hayes and Rev. Burt Jones officiating. Interment will follow in Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Charlie Gilliland, Klee Kleber, David Giles, Joe Kleber, Chris Hendrix, Knox Hagler, David Cruz, Joe Hendrix, Tommy Newman, Mike Carey, Mike Flowers, Joe Dixon and Fransisco Cruz serving as pallbearers. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service at the church.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the the Michigan Ave. Baptist Church, Westwood Baptist Church or the Church of your choice.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 18, 2008, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Grissom Funeral Home who has charge of funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net