Shirley Ruth “Woody” Gilliam died Thursday, March 13, 2014, at River Region Medical Center. She was 55.
She was a homemaker and was of the Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her father, Beatrice Phelps, and a brother, Herbert Phelps.
Survivors include her three sons, Anthony Phelps and Erik Gilliam of Vicksburg, and Herbert Gilliam Jr. of Atlanta; daughter, Denise Gilliam of Atlanta; mother, Geniva Phelps of Vicksburg; four brothers, Benson Sims of Chicago, Louis Phelps of Atlanta, William Phelps of Atlanta and Michael Phelps of Vicksburg; four sisters, Bobbie Bradford, of Chicago,  Louise Claiborne of Detroit, Willie Jean David of Vicksburg and Gloria Deviraux of Lithonia, Ga.; four grandchildren; and nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2014, at W. H. Jefferson Funeral Home with the Rev. Curtis Ross officiating. Burial follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.