Betty Jane Gilliam

Betty Jane Gilliam June 11, 1927 - December 24, 2015 Betty Jane “Janie” Gilliam of Waco passed away Thursday, December 24, 2015, at Providence Hospice Place. Services will be at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 29, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Rev. Bennie Portwood officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday, December 28, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Janie was born June 11, 1927, in Springfield, Missouri to Wyatt and Anna Moutray. She graduated from Springfield’s Central High School in 1945 and then attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri where she met her future husband, Culver Francis “Pete” Gibson, a Navy veteran just returned from service as a Seabee in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Janie received her Associate Degree in 1947 and married Pete that same year. Janie and Pete moved to Waco so Pete could attend Baylor University to complete his theology degree as a first step to attending seminary. In a pattern of service that would be repeated throughout her life, Janie served the community by volunteering for the campaign to construct Baylor Stadium. When Pete died in 1957, Janie devoted herself to being a remarkable parent to her two sons, John Mark Gibson and James Stephen Gibson. She also devoted herself to work for her church. She served as secretary of the newly-formed Connally Heights Baptist Church for many years and later continued her service as secretary of the Bellmead First Baptist Church. She then served for 21 years as a records administrator in the Financial Aid Department at Baylor University. In that capacity she coordinated financial aid benefits for thousands of students. During her tenure at Baylor, she met and married Melvin O. Gilliam, a former member of the Waco City Council, longtime local grocer, and later a Baylor Book Store employee. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she and Melvin were active members of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, where she sang in the choir. She and Melvin also enjoyed singing in the Baylor Senior Choir. After Melvin died, Janie continued to serve others by volunteering at Hillcrest Hospital and Meals on Wheels until her health prevented her continued service. Janie was preceded in death by her parents, Wyatt and Anna Moutray; first husband, Culver Francis Gibson; second husband, Melvin O. Gilliam, her sister, Ethel Moore; and her brother, Charles Moutray. She is survived by her elder son and his wife, John Mark Gibson and Kathy Jean Gibson of Waco, Texas; her younger son, James Stephen Gibson of Dallas, Texas; her grandson, Mark Grayson Gibson; her granddaughter, Kathryn Mackenzie Bera, and Mackenzie’s husband, Abhishek Antonio Bera. In lieu of flowers, the family requests the continuation of Janie’s legacy of service to others with memorials to Central Texas Senior Ministry (Meals on Wheels), the American Parkinson Disease Association, the American Heart Association, or a favorite charity.