Hester Hooten Gillis

Hester Hooten Gillis passed away on November 20, 2011. Funeral services will be held on November 25, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. G. W. C. Richardson officiating and George F Grubbs Funeral Home directing.

She was born on August 10, 1925 in Troy. She was the beautiful daughter of Mr. King David and Mrs. Augusta Kimber Hooten, mother of Juliette Gillis, Nellie “Honey” Gillis Bristow, step mother of Peter Gillis, sister of Elkonous Hooten, R. T. Hooten, Samuel Hooten, K. D. Hooten, Ruby Hooten Bean, Willie Pink Hooten Smith, Nancy Lee Hooten Berry, Jennie Hooten Jackson, Lillie Mae Hooten, and Mary Ann Hooten Hardy, all who preceded her in death.

Hester gave her life to Christ at an early age and united with the Bethlehem Baptist Church, Orion, Alabama, and later in her life she united with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Troy, Alabama. She attended the Pike County Public Schools. Hester’s passion in life was caring for people whether that meant preparing food, driving people to their doctor appointments, or bringing love ones to live with her to care for. She had a beautiful voice and she used it praising God through songs. Some of her favorite songs were “You Got To Move,” “Don’t Let Nothing Shake Your Faith In God,” and “May The Work I’ve Done Speak For Me.”

On February 3, 1935, Hester married the late L. E. Gillis and they were blessed with ten children, their two oldest, Julie and Honey preceded her in death.

On Sunday, November 20, 2011 God embraced Hester and took her home. She leaves to cherish her loving memories: Gussie M. Gillis, Newark, NJ; Jessie (Ben) Johnson, Irvington, NJ; Robert (Liz) Gillis, Troy, AL; Nathan (Reneather) Gillis, Chicago, IL; Rev. Henry (Barbara) Gillis, Mobile, AL; Larry (Mary) Gillis, Troy, AL; Lee (Ray) Cooper, Orange, NJ; Ethel R. Gillis, Montgomery, AL; Son-in-Law, Arthur Bristow, Montgomery, AL; Brother, Jack Hooten, Troy, AL; Stepdaughters, Anna Whitfield, Birmingham, AL; Beatrice Gillis, Detroit, MI; Brother-in-Law, George Hardy, Dundee, FL; 49 Grandchildren, 53 Great Grandchildren, 14 Great-Great Grandchildren, and a host of Nieces and Nephews; God Children, Queen and Walter Green, Celestine Drayden, Shaundra Stephens, Lewis L. Webb, Jr., all of Montgomery, AL; Special Friends/Neighbors, Mrs. Mae Ola Collins, Mr. Charles (Melar) Walker, Troy, AL; 7 God Grandchildren.