Nealie G. Gildon

Nealie Thrasher Gildon, age 91, passed away peacefully on January 3, surrounded by loved ones. Having lived a life marked by faith, devotion, and quiet strength, she entered her heavenly home to meet her Savior and be reunited with the love of her life, Ray.

Nealie was born on January 25, 1934, in Pickens County, Alabama, to Robert and Mary Lorene Thrasher. Born during the Great Depression and the oldest of six children, she quickly learned the value of both hard work and family. She excelled in school, even skipping a grade in elementary school, and graduated from New Hope High School on May 4, 1951. The following day, she married Ray Gildon, with whom she spent the next 56 years, until his passing in 2007.

After Nealie and Ray married, Nealie continued to help care for her younger siblings, and in the summer of 1952, she and Ray welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Pam. Attentive and kind, Nealie was a natural mother who poured love into her daughter for the remainder of her years.

When Pam started school, Nealie entered the workforce and began a career in shipping with American Bosch, later United Technologies, where she was a diligent and dependable employee for the next 36 years. Long after her retirement, her employer was still quick to tell others that she was the best employee he had ever had.

Nealie carried that same devotion into her role as a grandmother, fondly known as “Gan.” She never missed a game, performance, or milestone. She was the grandmother who woke up early to cook breakfasts fit for kings, played games on the floor, blew soap bubbles during bath time, and lay down beside her grandchildren until they drifted off to sleep. Cabinets were cleared to create extra hiding spots for games of hide-and-seek, and she patiently listened to off-key piano performances far longer than anyone else would have. Her presence was steady, joyful, and always attentive, making her grandchildren feel deeply known and endlessly loved. Her nieces and nephews experienced that warmth and care as well, welcomed into the same space of attention and affection. When her great-grandchildren arrived, they brought a new light to her life, and she delighted in their laughter and energy.

Nealie had varied interests, from gardening to aerobics, and caring for any stray animal that wandered her way. An avid and talented quilter, her work can be recognized not by a stitched name or label, but by the perfection of its shapes and the precision of every stitch. A lifelong learner, she dominated crossword puzzles and held her own in discussions of politics, current events, and trivia alike. Even well into her 80s, Nealie could often be found on her lawnmower or tending her garden, always in a wide sun hat and long sleeves. She generously shared the fruits of her labor with others—beautiful red tomatoes, green beans she canned herself, cucumbers turned into sweet pickles, and her famous fried okra, which rarely made it to the dinner table before disappearing.

It is impossible to fully capture a life well lived in mere paragraphs, but Nealie can best be described as loyal, kind, steadfast, and devoted. She always showed up. She was a doer who knew how to get things done, preferably behind the scenes and without fanfare. She loved without exception or condition. Even near the end of her life, when words were often difficult to find, “I love you” never failed her.

A lifelong member of Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Nealie was unwavering in her faith. While we grieve her absence, we rejoice in knowing she is dancing with Jesus and reunited with Ray.

In addition to her parents and husband, Nealie was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Jimmy Galloway; brother, Robert “Buddy” Thrasher; nephews, Jerry Gildon and Jay Whitten; and nieces, Ann House and Pat Gore. She is survived by her daughter, Pam Galloway; grandchildren Brandt Galloway and his wife Martha, Sally Edwards and her husband Shaun, and Betsy Young and her husband Stephen; great-grandchildren Sam and Annie Edwards, Lizzie and Ben Galloway, and Karter and Charlie Young, all of Columbus. She is also survived by her sisters Angie Whitten and Tammie Stevens of Columbus, Shirley Parker of Tuscaloosa, and Lanada Marcinko and her husband Ron of St. Louis, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews; and dear friends Betty Armistad and Lisa Brown.

Visitation will take place Thursday, January 15, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Beersheba Cumberland Presbyterian Church in New Hope. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. with Pastor Justin Grifford officiating; burial at Beersheba Cemetery will follow the service. Pallbearers will be Mike Parker, Marshall Thrasher, Bobby Thrasher, Patton Whitten, Drew Whitten, Austin Whitten, Callop Whitten, Dalton Whitten, and Preston Whitten.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Global Connections, 70 Brickerton Street, Columbus, Mississippi 39701, or St. Vincent de Paul, 823 College Street, Columbus, Mississippi 39705.

“Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.” — Matthew 25:23