SUMMERTON - Robert Lee Gilyard, 69, husband of Minnie Ray Gilyard, died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at the Medical University of South Carolina hospital in Charleston.
Born Dec. 24, 1944, in Summerton, he was a son of the late Jim Gilyard and Hattie Georgia Gilyard. He attended Clarendon County public schools.
At an early age he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and worshipped at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church until his health failed. Rob, as he was affectionately known, was a lovely husband and father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was joined in holy matrimony to the former Minnie R. Riley for 48 years. Four children were born to this union.
Survivors besides his wife include four children, Ernestine Riley and Brenda (Elexander) Dow, both of Summerton, Curtis (Felicia) Gilyard of North Carolina and Tammy (Kenneth) Gilyard of the home; three grandchildren she raised in the home, Brandon, N’asia (Ma Ma) and Keshawn (Bo Bo); 10 additional grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three sisters, Betty M. Kelly of Pennsylvania and Shirley Gilyard and Hattie M. Gilyard, both of New York; two brothers, James Gilyard of North Carolina and Charles (Virginia) Gilyard of Philadelphia, Pa. and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Robert Lee Gilyard will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, \at Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church, 1130 Granby Road in Summerton, with the Rev. Dr. W. T. Johnson, pastor, officiating.
The family will receive friends at the home of his daughter, Ernestine Riley, 4 Georgia St. in Summerton.
Services have been entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.
