Georgette Williams Gilley

Georgette "Joette" Gilley passed away peacefully in her sleep in the morning of August 16, 2025. The youngest of six siblings, she was born to parents Annie and Bartow Williams on April 30, 1934, in Jackson County, Florida. Joette attended Sneads High School. As a girl, she loved getting to ride into town with her grandfather, W.B. Williams, on his one-horse buggy and picking out a special treat at the store. Joette and her family have attended Salem Wesleyan Church faithfully for many years, where Joette enjoyed singing soprano in the church choir.

Joette married the love of her life, James Edward Gilley, on December 30, 1950. Shortly after, she joined him in his military service, first at Fort Pickett in Virginia, and then at Fort Sill in Oklahoma in the early 1950s. After James completed his service, they then returned to Jackson County to settle down. The couple welcomed the birth of their only child, Sharon, in February 1962. Joette doted on "Shay," and they enjoyed many camping trips to Arrowhead at the Mill Pond and excursions to the beach.

Joette worked alongside her sister, Dorothy, for several years at the nearby Warner's Sewing Factory in Marianna, Florida, rising through the ranks from seamstress to quality control supervisor.

Joette was known as "Big Mama" to two granddaughters-Annie Elizabeth and Georgia Anne. "Big Mama" made sure she always had the girls' favorite treats on hand-from baking coconut cakes for Liz to making her specialty Chocolate Milk Cake for Georgia's birthdays. "Big Mama" was always around to help the girls prepare for big events, such as back-to-school shopping and helping create costumes or sew outfits for church plays. Joette also never missed the early morning venture to the outlet malls with her girls on the day after Thanksgiving.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, James Gilley; her parents Bartow and Annie Williams; brother T.E. "Preacher" Williams and his wife Hazel, brother Chester Williams; adopted siblings Ben McMillon and Susie McMillon Peacock; brother-in-law Eugene Gilley; and sisters-in-law Jessie Lee Tyus and Shelby Grimsley.

She is survived by one sister, Dorothy Williams McMillan, of Sneads, Florida; a daughter, Sharon, and her husband Alan Pevy, of Sneads, Florida; two granddaughters, Liz, and husband Cody Cunningham, of Sneads, Florida, and Georgia Pevy, of Washington, D.C.; a great- grandson, James William "Billy" Cunningham, of Sneads, Florida; a brother-in-law, Ralph, and wife Dianne Hobbs, of Grand Ridge, Florida; sister-in-law Shirley Hartley of Cairo, Georgia; a host of nieces and nephews she held dearly in her heart; and special family friend Larry Mitchell of Sneads, Florida.

Services will be held on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Salem Wesleyan Church with Pastor Rafael Bellinni officiating and McAlpin Funeral Home directing. Visitation with family and friends will begin at 10am CDT, with funeral services starting at 11am CDT. The burial will be at Dykes Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Salem Wesleyan Church Building Fund.