Virginia Lynnette Gilliam (Cunningham)

March 4, 1957-December 7, 2020

Virginia Lynnette Gilliam, age 63, passed away peacefully at home on December 7, 2020, after an arduous battle with laryngeal cancer. She was born on March 4, 1957, in Martins Ferry, Ohio to Virginia Peterson and the late Howard Cunningham.

Virginia will be remembered by all who knew her as an exceptionally hard worker. She was a longtime associate of Walmart in Steubenville, Ohio. In her free time, you would likely catch her working on home improvement projects. When she wasn't hard at work, Virginia found great joy in spending time with her loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Julius Gilliam with whom she shared 28 wonderful years, her father Howard Cunningham, and her dad Ernest "EW" Peterson.

She will forever be remembered for her warmth, her honesty, creativity, and her no-nonsense personality. Virginia is survived and lovingly remembered by her mother Virginia Peterson, son Shean (Jessica) Bridges, son Edward (Christina) Servin, daughter Veronica (Mike) Evans, Julia Gilliam, Justin Gilliam, Vanessa (Brad) Gilliam-Szabo, son Russell (Deiona) Gilliam, and daughter Catherine (Dan) Gilliam-Hollis. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Alaina, Ava, Brooks, Corbin, Jaelyn, Jemani, Mia, Michael, Niko, Sydney, and Nathan; great-grandchildren Aaliyah, Alessia, De'Veon, Raphael, and Raul. Virginia will be affectionately remembered by her loving sisters Ernestine Mixon and Lori DeVore, brother Jonathan Peterson, sister Loretta Cunningham, and brother Howard Cunningham. Virginia will be sorely missed by her mother, children, grandchildren, siblings, and all who knew her.

Weep not for me

Weep not for me though I have gone
Into that gentle night
Grieve if you will, but not for long
Upon my soul's sweet flight

I am at peace, my soul's at rest
There is no need for tears
For with your love I was so blessed
For all those many years

There is no pain, I suffer not
The fear is now all gone
Put now these things out of your thoughts
In your memory, I live on

Remember not my fight for breath
Remember not the strife
Please do not dwell upon my death
But celebrate my life

All services will be held privately for the family.