Hudson Durand “Pete” Gilliand, 75, died Friday, May 8, 2009 at his home in Bay Minette, following a lengthy illness.
He was born Dec. 9, 1933 in Greenville, and was a native of Bay Minette. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a master gunnery sergeant after serving 23 years for his country. After retirement, he graduated from Faulkner State Junior College with an Associates of Arts degree. He then went to work with Independent Life Insurance Agency and retired as staff manager after 15 years where he was a member of the presidents club and the Multi-Millionaire Club for outstanding achievements. He was an ordained Baptist Minister and last served at Minneola Baptist Church until his health began to fail him. He was a member and deacon of Southside Baptist Church in Bay Minette. He was recently honored as an honorary deacon due to no longer being able to serve as a regular deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Hudson and Ila Lee Gilliand; brothers, Charles Noland of Bay Minette and David Michael of Swansboro, NC; one daughter, Patty Waldrop of Bay Minette; and one great-grandson, Daniel James Brock.
Survivors include his wife of almost 55 years, Marian Gilliand; three children, Lee (Carl) Thompson and Hudson Randall (Patsy) Gilliand, both of Bay Minette and Anne (Martin) Flowers of Camden; grandchildren; Sandra (Buddy) Brock, Stephen (Christie) Thompson, both of Bay Minette, Kevin (Sue Ellen) Thompson of Vicenza, Italy, Ricki (Cory) Barton of Rabun, Duston Steele of Bay Minette, Stephanie (Kevin) Crawley of Rockfield, Md., Victoria (Shannon) Britt of Rabun, Tammy (Duane) Eady of Rabun, Jeremy (Shelea) Flowers of Camden, Joey (Leslie) Flowers of Pine HIll, Jessie (Josh) Morgan of Camden, Jimmy (Mandy) Waldrop of Bay Minette, Debra “Shelly” Smith and Ricky Waldrop, both of Bay Minette; 28 great-grandchildren, Chris Wickline, Roxie and Gracie Brock, Valerie, Joshua, Nathan and Rachel Thompson, Annie Lee and Elena Thompson, Ashley and Emily Barton, Brandon Bryars, Brannigan and Brandon Crawley, Allison (Brandon) Stophel, Kaitelyn Hadley, Dillon Rider, James and John Britt, Charity and Chaynce Eady, Beth and Jackson Flowers, Tatum, Lance and Jake Flowers, Brayden Waldrop, Devin Smith; and two expected this summer; brother, Douglas Gilliand of Milton, Fla.; three nephews, Frank, Dean and Todd Gilliand; and caregivers, Fleecy McCurdy, Ramona Felps and Raymond Brown.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 14 from the chapel of Norris Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Patterson officiating. Burial followed at Bay Minette Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Jeremy Flowers, Joey Flowers, Jimmy Waldrop, Stephen Thompson, Kevin Thompson and Duston Steele.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Southside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 418, Bay Minette, AL 36507.
Arrangements were made by Norris Funeral Home, Bay Minette.
