Norman Burke Gillis Jr.

Norman Burke Gillis, Jr., of McComb, MS, died at the age of 89 on September 15, 2016 at home. He was born on July 18, 1927 in Fayette MS and was always proud of his family's distinguished heritage in that area since before statehood. He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Marjean Woodward; sister Mary Katie Gillis of Taos, NM; sons Norman Gillis, III of Nashville, TN; Charles Gillis (Thomas) of New Orleans, LA and Alan Gillis (Betsy) of Kingwood, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents Norman B. Gillis, Sr. and Katie Lewis Gillis, daughter Patricia Kay and brother Sterling. He attended McComb High School, the University of Mississippi undergraduate and law schools and SMU for post graduate study. He was associate editor of the Mississippi Law Journal, member of Phi Delta Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa, president of both Pi Kappa Alpha and Interfraternity Council. In honor of a deceased classmate he established the Fredrick P. Hamel Memorial Award for Academic Excellence and in 2007 was presented with a citation for 50 years of dedication and service to the UM law school. He was one of the region's most prominent attorneys as well as a developer of commercial properties and a number of oil & gas fields. He was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court, and was a member of the Mississippi, Texas and American Bar Associations. Trained as a Navy pilot he was later assigned as a military escort to delegates attending the first session of the United Nations in New York. He loved flying modern and vintage planes and was the first pilot to land at Moisant Air Field in New Orleans. A member of the Boy Scouts since 1939, he served as President of the Andrew Jackson Council, Scoutmaster of Troop 121. His leadership awards include The Wood Badge, Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Distinguished Eagle, and election to the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 2016 he was honored by the Andrew Jackson Council for 75 years of service. He served as a director on the boards of Mississippi Power & Light (Entergy MS) for more than 30 years and Trustmark National Bank for 39 years; as President of the McComb Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. He was the first Board President of Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, after leading an intense struggle for its creation. Earlier in the 1960's he joined a group of local businessmen who bravely stood up to end a rash of violence against African-American churches and families. He was named King of the Junior Auxiliary Ball, and served as a Trustee of the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. He was co-founder of Gulf South Art Galleries; developer of the Pike County Juvenile Detention Center, and for 40 years a captain at Manresa Retreat House in Convent, LA. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator. Visitation will be from 4 PM until 8 PM Sunday September 18, at Hartman Funeral Home. Private funeral and burial will be the next morning. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Manresa Retreat House ( PO BX 89, Convent, LA 70723) or the Boy Scouts Andrew Jackson Council (855 Riverside Dr, Jackson, MS 39202 or www.bsa-jackson.org).