Alma L Gilliam

On Tuesday, August 26th, Alma Louise Gilliam passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was granted a graceful passing after an extraordinary life, filled with faith, challenges, and courage. Born in Bessemer, Alabama, she moved to Pittsburgh at an early age. Sister Gilliam spent her youth in Homeville, PA, before relocating to Homewood in Pittsburgh, where she attended Westinghouse High School. There, she showcased her athletic skills in basketball, a precursor to her late son Armon’s future NBA career.

In addition to her prowess in sports, she excelled academically, scoring so highly on the civil service exam that it led to an opportunity to work at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Although she broke barriers by her presence in this workplace, due to racial segregation in the 1950s, she had to live in the dorms of Howard University, an all-Black institution, separated from her colleagues. During her time at the Pentagon, she faithfully sent money home to supplement her father’s salary from the steel mill. After returning to Pittsburgh, she was hired as an elevator operator and became one of the first Black women to hold her own office at Magee Hospital. One day, she encountered a woman, Matilda, and her young son, Elbert, who were in dire need of housing. Although the woman was a stranger, Sister Gilliam took the initiative to secure a place for them to live. In gratitude, Matilda encouraged Sister Gilliam to meet her dashing, strong, and kind son when he returned home from the Navy. Matilda’s son became Alma Gilliam’s life partner, Pastor James T. Gilliam. Together, they raised their four sons—Gralan, Jerrel, Armon, and Javan—in Bethel Park, PA, and became active fixtures in the community, participating in various charitable, sports, and religious organizations.

Sister Gilliam often reminisced about beginning to play piano for a church in Pittsburgh at the age of 12, but she only developed a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ after her husband’s radical conversion to faith. Initially, she thought he had lost his mind when he poured out all their liquor and discarded their jazz album collection, and their prized Fats Domino record. However, over time, she recognized that her husband’s faith was genuine. She transitioned from a mere religious experience to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, desiring for everyone around her to do the same.

Throughout her life, she held various clerical, sales, and supervisory positions at Ames, the YWCA, the Bethel Park Public Library, and Baptist Homes. She also worked as a school bus driver and attended real estate school, earning her license to become a successful realtor. In terms of community service, she ran a local neighborhood day camp in the Coverdale community of Bethel Park, creating unique games like “It’s Raining!” and organizing exciting field trips to places like the Gateway Clipper, Laurel Caverns, Meadowcroft Village, and the Zoo. Her track teams gained legendary status, providing children with opportunities to experience success at a community-wide level.

Alma Gilliam was passionate about helping the weak, elderly, and poor. She and Pastor Gilliam worked tirelessly, through several organizations such as Shiloh Baptist Church, the Tabitha Group, the Maternity Home, and the Shiloh Food Bank, to fulfill that mission. Later in life, she chose to write an autobiography as a legacy for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Upon its release, Journey of Faith, Challenges, and Courage by Alma Gilliam ranked among Amazon’s Top 10 titles in its category, even holding the #1 spot for a stint. Sister Alma Gilliam will be fondly remembered as a woman who was blessed to serve God by serving others in need.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Houston and Mamie King; her husband, Pastor James T. Gilliam; her son, Armon Gilliam; her brothers Frank, Leo, and William King; and her sister, Jacqueline Sherrill. She is survived by her sons Gralan Gilliam, Jerrel T. (Shannah) Gilliam, and Javan (Kelly) Gilliam; her husband’s sister, Myrene Smith; her grandchildren Rachel, Sarah, Josiah, Jordan, Jerrel I, Joyelle, Jada (Blake), Gentry, Wells (Kate), Cheryl (Daniel), Jeremiah (Trinity), Joshua, Torrey, Brandon, and Breanne; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Public Viewing and Words of Reflection will be held on Thursday, September 4th from1-3 PM and 5-7 PM at Shiloh Church, 2624 Brandis Ave. South Park, PA 15129.  Celebration of her life will be held Friday, September 5th, 10 AM at Peters Creek Baptist Church, 6300 Library Rd., South Park, PA 15129.

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