ANDERSON- Mrs. Myrtle Eddins Gillespie, age 71, wife of Dr. Marion Ray Gillespie, passed away on December 29, 2009 at her home.
Born in Atmore, Alabama on December 29, 1938 she was the daughter of the late Clifford and Rachael Eddins. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi followed by a Masters in Audiology from Ohio State University.
She met her husband, M. Ray Gillespie, while working at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Gillespie was an active member of the Anderson Community for four decades. She taught the Gillespie Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church, Anderson, SC for 30 years and served two terms as Deacon. She was recently honored as a Life Deacon by First Baptist Church.
Her community involvement included serving on the boards of the Anderson County Medical Alliance, Foothills United Way, Anderson Junior Assembly and Anderson County Arts Council. One of her personal passions was supporting arts and music in the schools and the community. She was a founding member of the Greater Anderson Musical Arts Consortium (GAMAC) and served on the board for 18 years.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, M. Ray Gillespie; daughter, Andrea Gillespie Williford (Lawrence), of Macon, GA; her sons: M. Boyd Gillespie (Charlotte) of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Allen R. Gillespie (Kelly) of Simpsonville, SC; grandchildren: Grier and Hamp Williford; Lilly, Helen, Philip Gillespie; Alex and William Gillespie; and brother, James C. Eddins (Marianne). She was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Ray Eddins.
Funeral services will be at 11AM Thursday, December 31, 2009 at the First Baptist Church Anderson, with Dr. James R. Thomason officiating. Burial will follow at the M.J. “Dolly” Cooper Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7PM, December 30, 2009 at Sullivan-King Mortuary, Northeast Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 307 S. Manning St. Anderson, SC 29621 or GAMAC Endowment Fund, PO Box 2365 Anderson, SC 29622.
SULLIVAN-KING MORTUARY, Northeast Chapel, www.sullivanking.com