Chelsea Elizabeth "Chels, Chedda, Sweet Heat, Coach, Mama Duck, Grizz" Gilliam

"Chelsea Elizabeth Gilliam" (Chels, Chedda, Sweet Heat, Coach, Mama Duck, Grizzly Bear) (35), of Daytona Beach, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on August 5, 2025. Chelsea was born on March 3, 1990, in Rockford, Illinois to Robert Gilliam Sr. and Karen (Gilliam) Real.

Chelsea is one of the sweetest people, she always cared about others before herself. She had a strong faith in God. She was a courageous young woman and affectionately known as a fighter, no matter what she faces she battled it head on and never gave up. She was a shining light for all who knew and loved her. Her smile would light up any room.

At the young age of 5, Chelsea started her bowling career. Later, she attended Winnebago High School, in IL., where she bowled for the Indians for 4 years. The team won the IHSA State Championship in 2007. Chelsea bowled three 300 games in high school. Also, as a youth and in high school Chelsea also enjoyed playing softball and volleyball. Chelsea attended Pikeville College, Pikeville, KY., where she received a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Psychology in 2012. The Pikeville Bears 2012 team was inducted into the Bears Hall of Fame in 2018 for winning their first NAIA Championship.

After graduating from Pikeville, she served as the head coach for the men's and women's bowling teams at Union College in KY. In 2013, Chelsea was diagnosed with breast cancer, she continued to coach, and she led the men Bulldog's to a second consecutive runner-up finish at the Mid-South Conference Tournament and was named the Women's Co-Head Coach of the Year in 2014. Chelsea decided to share her cancer story and entered the Bowl for the Cure® Fabulous Four essay contest, her essay was selected, giving Chelsea and three other survivors the opportunity to tour the Susan G. Komen® headquarters and International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, receive a lesson from Team USA head coach Rod Ross and PWBA stars Stefanie Johnson and Shannon Pluhowsky at the International Training and Research Center, and compete on the opening squad at the 2015 United States Bowling Congress Women's Championships at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, Nevada. This opportunity would also allow Chelsea to meet and provide Breast Cancer Awareness with her favorite WWE wrestler, Roman Reigns. In 2015, Chelsea bowled in the PWBA Wichita Open, where she finished in 57th out of a field of more than 100 of the top female players in the world.

Also, in 2015, Chelsea was recruited by Youngstown State College to create the college's first bowling program. In the team's first year of competition, 2016-2017, the team ranked in the Top 25. This year also brought Chelsea's second cancer diagnosis, but she continued to coach. Leading the Youngstown Penguins to another Top 25 ranking, 2017-18. In 2018, Chelsea became the head bowling coach for Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, FL. Chelsea would later go on to coach, run tournaments and work with the KB Ormond Pro Shop in Ormond, FL. Chelsea also liked to bake and decorate cookies for special occasions, build gingerbread houses, and put together Lego sets and jigsaw puzzles, White Sox and Da Bears.

Chelsea was preceded in death by her father, Robert Gilliam Sr, and her sister, Jade Renee Gilliam. Uncle Bob Vaccaro.

She is survived by her dad & mom, Matthew and Karen Real, brother, Corey (Melissa) Gilliam, sister Shelby (Kenny) Gilliam-Brazee, brother Robert Gilliam Jr. niece, Paris Schaible, and nephews, Isaiah Schaible, and Luke and Mark Gilliam. Also, so many who she considered not just friends but family.

Chelsea battled cancer head on like no one we have ever known, she never gave up. She loved the Lord, her family and everyone that entered her life.

We all will forever be #TeamChelseaForever.