EUGENE GALLISHAW

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Eugene Gallishaw, son of the late Edward Blanding Sr. and Oleen McMillian Gallishaw, was born on June 12, 1951, in Sumter County. He departed this life on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in the home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eugene was educated in the Lee County public schools. He was a member of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church in Woodrow.

He worked many years at Blue Ridge Trucking Co. and retired from Carolina Pride (formerly Goldkist) in 2006. Eugene spent his retirement days doing what he loved. He was a handyman for all who needed him and an absolute grill master, building grills and cooking food to perfection. He looked forward to his daughters' college homecoming tailgate every year where he showed off his cooking skills. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren every chance he got. If you were looking for him on any given day, you would find him and his red pickup truck at one of his sisters' houses eating dinner.

He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Loris Ann Wells-Gallishaw; two daughters, Charlene (Dontreal) Gallishaw Thomas and Renee (Jermaine) Gallishaw, both of Charlotte, North Carolina; one son, Cedric Morrison of Camden; three stepsons, Quentes Wells of Statesburg, Georgia, Harvis Wells of Houston, Texas, and Jonathan (Chaunta) McGee of Sumter; one special friend he referred to as his son, David Caldwell of Florence; seven sisters, Bernice (James) Ray, Bernice Anderson, Estelle (Isaac) Weston, Shirley Blanding, Gloria (Matthew) James and Evelyn (Clarence) Gaines, all of Sumter, and Ernestine (James) Tention of Augusta, Georgia; 10 brothers, Mack Gallishaw Jr., Herbert Gallishaw, Edward Gallishaw, Robert (Wanda) Gallishaw, Edward (Vanessa) Blanding, Samuel (Dorothy) Blanding and Willie James Blanding, all of Sumter, Elrvin (Felicia) Gallishaw of Bronx, New York, Leroy Blanding of Newark, New Jersey, and Matthew (Tracey) Blanding of Columbia; two brothers-in-law, James Wells and Johnny (Daisey) Wells of Sumter; four sisters-in-law, Carolyn Wells, Emily (Frankie) Scott, Cathy Wells and Linda Wells of Sumter; 23 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one goddaughter, Tykia Scott of Sumter; his special niece, Helen Vaughn of Tampa, Florida; and a host of other nieces, nephews, family members and friends.

In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, the family is requesting face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during all visitations at the home, 2390 Little Baby Lane, Sumter.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mt. Olive Memorial Garden, Pear Street, Woodrow, with the Rev. Dr. Ralph L. Brown, pastor, officiating.

The procession will leave from the home at 1:30 p.m.

Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.

Online messages may be sent to the family at williamsfuneral@sc.rr.com.

Visit us on the web at www.williamsfuneralhomeinc.com.