Add a Memory
Send Flowers
Make a Donation
Joyce Gilliam Obituary
GILLIAM, Joyce - age 75 of Swartz Creek, passed away August 15, 2025. A memorial service will be held 1 PM Monday, August 18, 2025, at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, MI 48473. The family will receive friends from 11 AM - 1 PM Monday at the funeral home. Joyce was born April 11, 1950, in Paragould, AR, the daughter of Lyman and Bessie (Norman) Wilburn. Joyce enjoyed spending time outdoors with her partner, Jerry-watching wildlife, appreciating nature, and working on word search puzzles. A devoted Detroit Tigers fan, she also worked in various retail stores over the years. Above all, her greatest joy and priority in life was her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Surviving are: significant other, Jerry Howart; her daughters, Nanette (Doug) Beck and Joette Carpenter; Jerry's kids, Michael (Kristie) Howart and Jeremy (Christina) Howart; grandchildren, Joshua Beck, Ashlyn Beck, Joseph (Lauren) Carpenter, Matthew Carpenter, Averie, Cohen, Makenneh and Sebastian Howart; great-grandchildren, Bentley, Veda and Cowin; siblings, Nadine (Dave) Roper, Jeanette Beck, and Lyman Wilburn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyman and Bessie Wilburn; and two sisters, Shirley Spencer and Janice Olsen. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
People and places connected with Joyce
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Memories and Condolences
for Joyce Gilliam
Tell your own story about Joyce
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
How you can show support
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Follow this page
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Make a Donation
in Joyce Gilliam's name
How to support Joyce's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Joyce Gilliam's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
