Doris Kay Gilliland

Doris Kay Gilliland was born to the late Charles and C. Lenora Ray, a millwright and a homemaker. She was born on Easter Sunday in Birmingham, AL on April 11, 1948. She entered the gates of heaven at her residence on December 17, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her entire family was her life. She has been married to her loving husband Alfred Gilliland for 51 years. They have four children between them and two bonus children. Doris was the heart of the family. She hosted a plethora of family get togethers whenever she had the chance. She loved camping, fishing, genealogy, cooking, reading, and being outdoors. Her heart was as big as her smile, and her laughter was contagious. She was an active member of her church family at Hepzibah Baptist, and she and her husband ran the kitchen for nearly a decade. She was a member of the American Legion Aux Post 149. She and her husband helped found the Christian Ministry Center in Brookwood, AL to help those in need. She had a huge heart and everyone felt loved in her presence. She will be dearly missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know her. She was the sunshine of her family's life. She was preceded in death by both her parents Charles and Doshie Ray, bonus father W.C. Capps, brothers, Phillip, William, and Carl Ray; sisters, Betty Pennington, and Ann Reeves. She is survived by her husband, Alfred Gilliland; children, Jerry "Bit" Savage, Charles "Chuck" Savage (Tammie), Richard Gilliland (Rick), Betty Ann Fields (Leroy), Jimmy Singleton (Tracy), Anthony Singleton (Jodi); sister, Vivian Parks (Junior); grandchildren, Brad Savage (Kellie), Chris Savage (Darnesia), Brandi Freeman (James), Jessalyn Poe (Tyler), Jacob Fields (Katie), Raychel Fields, and great grandchildren, Rylee, Daisy, Noah, Jeremiah, John-Henry, James Robert, Rhett, Emmy, Paul, Deklan, and Ava. Pallbearers are as follows, Brad Savage, Jacob Fields, Tyler Poe, James Freeman, David Pennington, Robert Armstrong and honorary, Mike Pennington. Funeral service will be Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Bessemer Brown Service Funeral Home with burial following at Hepzibah Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. Pastor Justin Maharrey will be officiating the service.

Doris Kay Gilliland

April 11, 1948 - December 17, 2022