Lillian "Dolly" M. Gilliam

LILLIAN MARIE GILLIAM

My mom Lillian (Dolly) Marie Gilliam (Campisi) passed away Friday August 21, 2026 at 6:17am at OSF St. Mary Medical Center she was 88. Mom was born on April 16, 1938, to her loving parents Joe & Lucille Campisi. She attended Corpus Christi Academy in Galesburg graduating in 1956.

She met the love of her life Daniel D. Gilliam and they married April 4, 1958. They had 2 sons, Brian J. Gilliam and me, Gary M. Gilliam. During their 16 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, tennis and family. Until her last day my mom & dad remained good friends.

She held many jobs in her lifetime including McClellan’s Dime Store, The Phone Company, Crossing Guard, Fesler Oldsmobile, Research Hospital and Bridgeway. The job she loved the most was working with and teaching clients at Bridgeway. The accomplishment she said was most proud of was raising my brother and me.

Mom was preceded in death of course by her parents Joe & Lucile Campisi, her brother Anthony Campisi, her beautiful little sister Virginia (Campisi) Grady and her amazing son Brian J Gilliam who passed away in 2022. She leaves behind to carry on her memory, me Gary Gilliam, her daughter-in-law Diana Yeo Gilliam and her grandson Brandyn Daniel Beng-Soon Gilliam who she cherished every moment with.

Moms’ favorite meal was a good steak, drink was a Bloody Mary, and dessert was German Chocolate Cake. Her favorite spot at home was out on the patio on her swing, her favorite time of day was morning, she wished she had a view of Pikes Peak out of her bedroom window & she may have been Notre Dame Footballs biggest fan. If you saw her at home or out running errands, you also saw her constant companion and best friend her pup Cassie. Cassie’s birthday was the day that mom passed away, she turned 16.

Moms’ happiest times were with my brother, myself, her daughter-in-law and grandson playing Scrabble whenever we were all home together

My mom was the strongest person I know. Together with my dad she raised my brother and I to be strong, independent and to live our best lives. I was blessed to come back home and spend the last 2.5 years of her life together. It was the honor of my life to care for her as she maneuvered her way through many health battles, always being brave showing me her strength, determination & Faith in GOD. I looked forward to what each day would bring especially watching Wheel of Fortune with her every night, our walks through the neighborhood, watching & cheering for Notre Dame Football.

I didn’t only lose my mom; I lost my best friend. I would like to give heart-felt thank you to Dr. Srini and the staff at Fresenius Kidney Care for their love and support in caring for my mother.

Visitation for Dolly will be 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. The rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 27, 2026 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Galesburg. Father Jeffrey Stirniman will officiate. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Fresenius Kidney Care or Knox County Humane Society. Online expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.