Annelle Gillilan

Annelle Cox Gillilan, 84, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Hamilton Hospice.
Born on March 13, 1929 in Dalton, Georgia she was the daughter of the late Mattie Emma “Tom” McHan Cox and John Perry Cox. Annelle was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Evelyn Cox Taylor and Gene Taylor, and brother Clyde Cox.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bill Gillilan; two daughters, Leanne Lawson and fiancé, Randy Martin, of Tunnel Hill and Cindy Bryan and her husband, Keith of Montgomery, AL and three grandchildren, Lauren Lawson of Wilmington NC, Emily Lawson of Tunnel Hill and Ruby Bryan of Montgomery AL. She is also survived by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jack and Barbara Allmon Gillilan of Marietta, GA; nieces and nephews.
Annelle enjoyed sharing stories of growing up in Dalton, running down Hamilton Street after her father when he was a driver for Freight Express Company, walking to school and playing tennis at the family court on Cannon Street. In August 1957 Annelle started her life with Bill Gillilan in Dalton, where they began to raise their family. Annelle worked for the Georgia State Board of Education while she and her family lived in Decatur.  She and Bill along with their daughters returned to Tunnel Hill in the early 70’s to live on the family farm. She retired from Shaw Industries. Her greatest joy was watching her granddaughters Lauren and Emily dance at the Creative Arts Guild and listening to granddaughter Ruby play the violin. All her granddaughters were passionate about and involved in the arts and Annelle was there to share it with them at every opportunity. She was president of the Northwest Georgia Handcrafters Guild and first exhibited at Prater’s Mill Country Fair continuing for several years. Annelle was also passionate about gardening and spent many hours designing and planting her gardens on the family farm.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 1:00 P.M. in the chapel of Love Funeral Home with the Rev. Robbie Dunn officiating. Burial will follow in West Hill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Creative Arts Guild Scholarship Fund, 520 W. Waugh St, Dalton, Ga. 30720.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave, Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.