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Ronald Curtis Gilliam
Ronald Curtis Gilliam of Bridgehampton died on December 16 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital. He was 74.
He was born July 8, 1947, to the late Levi and Mabel Gilliam. He was the youngest of 12 children born to the couple. He was baptized at an early age at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton.
Gilliam attended East Hampton public schools and graduated in 1965. On January 2, 1968, he enlisted in the in the United States Army in the rank of private. He served in Vietnam as a field artillery radar operator. On August 5, 1969, he was honorably discharged from the Army with the rank of SP5 (T).
On May 6, 1972, he was united in marriage to Flora Ann Walston, and from this union they were blessed with one daughter, Denisha Denee Gilliam-Whyte. Gilliam was also blessed with a daughter, Sonya Gilliam-McFadden, and a son, Anthony Hayes.
He was the owner of Ronnie’s Auto Paint Shop, Sag Harbor Car Services and Ron’s Lawn Services.
One of his favorite pastimes was auto racing. Gilliam and his brothers formed the “AOK” racing team, and he drove the “AOK” at the Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead and the Islip Raceway in Islip. He competed in racing competitions in the early 1970s. He also enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He often traveled to Daytona Beach for Bike Week.
Gilliam loved having cookouts, family gatherings and entertaining family and friends. He was very affectionate and loved his family very dearly, his family said, noting that he was very kind-hearted and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family and friends.
He was predeceased by his parents and siblings: Alfrieda, Ethel, Barbara, Phyllis, Carol, Mary, Joseph, George, Leo, Raymond Sr., and Benjamin.
He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Flora; two daughters, Sonya McFadden (Bryant) of Hackensack, New Jersey, and Denisha Whyte (Earl) of Mississauga, Canada; one son, Anthony Hayes (Amanda) of East Hampton; five grandchildren, Jerell McFadden, Destiny McFadden, Tamara Hayes-Schroeder, Taliya Hayes and Tristan Whyte; two great-grandchildren, Greyson Schroeder and Quinn Schroeder; three godchildren, Latoya Spearmon, Shantel Smith and Aaliyah Fulmore; four brothers-in-law, Hanson Brown, Miles Walston Jr. (Denise), Kelvin Walston, and Keith Walston (Conesh); eight sisters-in-law, Betty Gilliam, Sandra Gilliam, Linda Salley (Bennie), Berdie Lamb (Earl), Deborah Walston, Iola Walston, Paulette Lindsay (John) and Gwen Griffin; a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, relatives and friends. He will be missed immensely.
A viewing will take place Wednesday, December 22, from 6-7 p.m. Home-going service at 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton. Interment with U.S. Army honors on Thursday at noon. Arrangements entrusted to the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
Staff Writer on Dec 20, 2021