Obituary for Tommy Gillis

MR. TOMMY L. GILLIS, 72, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Northside Hospital, in Canton, GA.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00PM Saturday, November 8, at Vilula Baptist Church Cemetery, with Dr. Donnie Sutton officiating.

Tommy was born in McRae, GA on May 23, 1953. He graduated from Pulaski County High School in 1971 and was a member of Canton First United Methodist Church. Tommy was always a hard-working, ambitious young man with great plans for the future. That future changed when he suffered severe physical trauma as well as a severe traumatic brain injury at 18 years old. With his pure grit and two determined parents, he managed to overcome many of the challenges he faced as a result of these injuries and lived a good life full of gratitude for what he did have instead of sorrow for what he no longer had. Tommy faced his challenges with a quick wit, sly humor, thankfulness, and an appetite for life. His greatest joys were being with family, meeting new people, and just about anything to eat (especially steak!).

He is survived by his mother, Virginia Gillis, his aunts Nadine Yawn and Martha Scales, his uncle Windell Gillis (Lawanda), first cousins Farris (Stacy) Yawn, Allen (Jennifer) Scales, Debra Priest, Brian Gillis, Bret Gillis (Jenna), and Brannon Gillis (Amelia). He was preceded in death by his father, Leroy Gillis, and his maternal grandparents Thomas and Trellie Mae Allen and his paternal grandparents Edgar and Estelle Gillis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Vilula Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, % Ann McCranie, 2662 Chauncey Rhine Hwy, Eastman, GA 31023.