Heather Rose "Peaches" Gills

Gills, Heather Rose "Peaches"

was born on August 22, 1940, in Folkston, GA, and passed away on October 8, 2025, in Tampa, FL.

Heather grew up surrounded by a large family in the small town of Folkston. Her mother, Maggie, owned a local general store and dress shop where Heather worked during the summers. She loved playing basketball and was on her high school dance team, where she spun the fire baton. She also competed in beauty contests, winning titles such as Miss Bubbles and Miss Southern Georgia, and placing third in the Miss Georgia competition.

Heather attended Brenau College, where she earned her B.S. degree in Biology and Secondary Education. She was president of the Alpha Delta Pi national sorority. While in college, she visited Myrtle Beach with her roommate, Valerie Osteen, and met the love of her life, Jimmy Gills. Two weeks after graduation, they were married and moved to Durham, NC. While in Durham, she taught science at Durham Academy.

Heather and Jim shared many hobbies together, including snow skiing, waterskiing, and tennis. They welcomed their first child, Shea, in 1966, and later moved to Clearwater, FL where, in 1970, their second child, Pit, was born. While raising her children, Heather attended Norma Neal Gause's Bible study. After 23 years of participation, she became the Teaching Director of Community Bible Study for seven years.

Heather's passion for serving the Lord led her on many mission trips and ultimately to partnering with International Cooperating Ministries.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Jimmy Gills; her daughter, Shea, (husband, Shane Grundy) and their four children, Maggie, Braddock, Jimmy, and Lilly; her son, Pit,(wife, Joy Gills) and their three children, Pitzer (Maddie), Parker, and Stokes; and her brother, Ben Rogers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to International Cooperating Ministries (icm.org).

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