Remembering Sherman Gillespie
Sherman Gillespie recently passed away on September 11, 2019. Funeral services were held on Thursday September 19, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, located at 227 Fulton in Grand Rapids.
Sherman Dwight Gillespie was born December 25, 1949 in Athens, Tennessee to Cletus and Virginia Gillespie. Sherman was the youngest of three children.
He was preceded in death by his mother; Virginia Jo Gillespie, at an early age, his father; Cletus Franklin Gillespie, wife; Ivy Jean Kilgore - Gillespie, sister; Cleta Joyce Walls and brother; Thomas Clinton Gillespie, Sr.; father in - law; Charles Mathews, Sr.; mother in-law; Bessie Mathews; brother in-law; Charles Mathews, Jr.; sister in-law; Lynn Bailey and life long friend, Glenn Witt.
Sherman moved from Athens, TN with his mother, sister and brother to Grand Rapids, MI until her passing then they returned to TN.
After finishing elementary and Junior High School at J.L Cook in Athens, Sherman attended McMinn High School also in Athens, TN. He then returned to Grand Rapids, attended and graduated from South High School, in 1967.
His education continued at Grand Rapids Junior College, followed by Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Wheeling, Illinois.
His extensive work history included working in construction and at Blodgett Hospital.
Gillespie also spent a time with Norton's Funeral Home and held a management position at Perry Funeral Home in Battle Creek, Michigan.
This was all prior to opening his own funeral home, Sherman D. Gillespie Funeral Services, Inc. in 1986. This gave him the opportunity to serve the community that loved and nurtured him. He also served his city as a Grand Rapids Fire Fighter for 18 years before retiring to run his business full - time.
Sherman was a dedicated member of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church for many years and, recently, a dedicated member of First Community A.M.E. Church.
Sherman gave to his community not only through the funeral services he offered but also philanthropically by way of donating to and sponsoring various children's organizations.
He served on countless committees and boards throughout Grand Rapids; The Grand Rapids R.E.A.C.H. Program was one that was very near and dear to his heart. He also enjoyed being a Boys Scout Leader of a troop that was based in his community, with his son as one of those boy scouts.
In 1999, Sherman and Eva formed a friendship that evolved into a deeper love and rekindled the relationship from their first marriage. In 2015 they remarried and lived in love and happiness watching their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren grow until his passing.
On September 11, 2019 Sherman Dwight Gillespie, surrounded by all of his family, was peacefully swept up into the comforting arms of His Lord and Savior. Where he is free from all pain and illness; he has been made whole and given the ability to be with everyone he loves at the exact same time.
"I want to let the community know that I have been working with my dad since I was nine years old," said son Sian Sherman. "I've been carrying on the business since his retirement, since I came home in 2011. Everything that my father knew, he trained me for a reason. Those same values that my father had, he also instilled them in me. I will continue to serve this city in the same capacity and, hopefully, better. My family and I appreciate the city for caring for my father, our business and in continuation, myself.
To comfort the community, I know that there has been some confusion in the past months but Gillespie Funeral Home Services will not ever be going anywhere.
We are honored to serve this community and we will be continuing to serve the community to the best standard that we have always had and we will continue to strive to serve, even better. In honor of my father, we are proud to continue to serve the community that has basically made us."
Mrs. Eva Gillespie contributed to this article.
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