John William Gilford Sr.

John W. Gilford Sr. was born on July 31, 1935 in Clio, Alabama to the late Will and Callie Mae Gilford. He relocated to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 17. This is where he met and fell in love with the late Anna Marie. They united in marriage on May 29, 1960. The Lord blessed them to raise five beautiful children, Kimberly and John Jr., and nieces Lashawn, Olivia, and Kiera. In 1998, after 30 years of service, he retired from the Cleveland Board of Education. After retirement, the family relocated to Lawrenceville, GA. John and Marie became members of Antioch A.M.E. Church in Stone Mountain, GA. John loved his family immensely. He also had a profound way of making people feel welcomed, significant, encouraged, and loved. He never met a stranger. He enjoyed sending daily scriptural texts messages, listening to music and reading. In his earlier years, he enjoyed photography, gardening, traveling, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. On December 13, 2019, he departed from this earthly life to live eternally with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His loving wife Anna Marie Gilford of 53 years preceded him in death in 2013. He also was preceded in death by siblings Sarah L. Thomas (sister) of Cleveland, Ohio; Willie Baxter (brother) of Cleveland, Ohio; Mary Lou Eskridge (sister) of Lynn, Massachusetts; Ella C. Steward (sister) of Columbus, Georgia; and Willie L. Brown (sister) of Cleveland, Ohio. His memory will be cherished by all those who knew him including his daughter, Kimberly L. Smith (Michael), of Gainesville, Florida; son, John W. Gilford, Jr. (Missy), of Atlanta, Georgia; granddaughter, Kristy J. Gilford, of Destin, FL; and nieces/daughters Lashawn E. Mitchell of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Olivia M. Mitchell of Southfield, Michigan; and Kiera L. Mitchell of Stone Mountain, Georgia. Siblings; Vera Williams (Clarence), of Cleveland, OH; James O. Gilford of Warrensville Hts., OH; Shirley Blackson of Ellenwood, GA; Louis H. Gilford, Sr. (Ollie), of Silver Spring, MD; Eddie J. Gilford, Sr. of Warrensville Hts., OH; Betty Gilford of Capital Hts., MD; Clifton Arline (Sarah), of Columbus, OH. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, other relatives, and friends. Homegoing services for Mr. John William Gilford Sr. of Lawrenceville, GA will be held Friday, December 20, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Antioch AME Church, 765 S. Hairston Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home GWINNETT Chapel, 914 Scenic Hwy. Lawrenceville, GA 30045. (770) 338-5558

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John William Gilford Sr.

July 31, 1935 - December 13, 2019