August 24 1939 April 30 2020
Lori’s Obituary Elizabeth Loretta “Lori” Duncan Gilliam, 80, of Lexington, NC, passed away at Forsyth Medical Center on Thursday, April 30, 2020, after a massive stroke. She was surrounded by her husband and two children at her bedside, holding her hands, at the time of her passing. Lori was born in Spruce Pine, NC, on August 24, 1939, to Louis Paul Duncan and Velma Mae Duncan. She grew up in Hickory, the oldest of six children, and graduated from Appalachian State University with a BA in education. She went on to earn a masters in library science from UNC Greensboro. Lori spent her career in education with the Rowan County and Lexington City school systems, first as a high school English teacher and then as a school media specialist. She helped launch the first Apple computer labs in the Lexington City Schools. Lori lived a life that embodied kindness, curiosity, grace and commitment. She remained active and relished time with her friends through garden clubs, books clubs, traveling Broadway shows, Bridge and other card games, beach trips, and church events. She surrounded herself with people who made her laugh, people she respected and learned from, and those who simply liked to have a good time. A passionate reader who loved to talk about books and offer reading recommendations, Lori was always most interested in the real life story of whomever she was talking to. She had a warm, engaging personality and a genuine interest to know what was going on in someone’s life, especially the lives of her two children and six grandchildren. She always went the extra mile to keep in touch with family and friends. A few of the highlights of Lori’s life include singing a solo at Carnegie Hall in New York City, having her backyard featured on the Davidson County Garden Tour, and visiting the Holy Land in Israel. She served as a member of the Lexington Choral Society, a founding board member of Lexington Habitat for Humanity and president of the Lexington Jaycettes. She also served as a deacon and longtime Sunday School teacher in addition to numerous other leadership positions at First Baptist Church in uptown Lexington. A regular church choir member since her late teens, Lori sang in the choir at First Baptist for decades. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, John Lane Gilliam of the home; her son, Brannon Lane Gilliam (Whitney Brooks) of Lexington; her daughter, Kerry Shea Gilliam Penland (Christopher) of Granville, OH; three brothers, Carl “Bud” Duncan (Judy), Phil Duncan (Susan) and Louis Duncan (Fern); two sisters, Kathy Younce (Butch), and Debbie Alley (Dennis); six grandchildren, Thomas Gilliam, Daniel Gilliam, Kathleen Gilliam, Duncan Penland, Annie Penland and Grayson Penland; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents. A private inurnment service will be held outside at 11 am Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in the columbarium at the First Baptist Church on West 3rd Avenue in Lexington. The service will be recorded and broadcast later that day on First Baptist’s YouTube channel, which is easily accessed by visiting fbclex.org/. Friends and family are encouraged to visit the First Baptist Columbarium the afternoon of May 6 to observe a moment of silence at Lori’s niche. There will be a basket for Lori’s friends to leave a note, a prayer or a special memory. Visitors may come anytime during the afternoon beginning at noon on Wednesday. The gates of the columbarium will remain open for the day. A public celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to First Baptist Church at P.O. Box 436, Lexington, NC 27293. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lori Duncan Gilliam August 24 1939 April 30 2020.
Death notice for the town of: Lexington, state: North Carolina