Bonnie Lynette Basham Gilliam

Bonnie Lynette (Basham) Gilliam, 76, of Staunton, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.

Ms. Gilliam was born in Greenville, Virginia on March 25, 1947, a daughter of the late George Thomas Basham and Edna Abbie (Epperley) Basham.

Bonnie attended and loved her church family at New Covenant Church in Greenville. She retired in 2001 from National Ground Intelligence Center and previously worked at the Pentagon. Through her many battles, she always put others before herself. “Mom… a word that means closeness and caring… a wonderful word that means love.” Her children were her life and she wanted them to know they were loved.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Gilliam was preceded in death by two sons, Baby Hemp and Gregory David Gilliam; a granddaughter, Ellie Claire Gilliam; a grandson, Cody Miller; and a brother, Roger Basham.

Surviving, is the love of her life and caregiver, Steve Bennett; three sons, Jimmy Hemp (Shannon Logan), David Hemp (Carolyn), and Christopher Gilliam (Katie); a daughter, Audra McCray (Tim); two sisters, Shirley Smith (Dennis), and Mary Dana Leavitt; a sister-in-law, Jane Basham; nine grandchildren, James Fix, Nathan Fix, Evan Fix, Trey Hemp, Jordan Hemp, Josh Hemp, Clay Falls, Levi Hemp, and Hailey Hemp; eleven great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, August 7, 2023 in the Coffman Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Theresa Moore.

Burial will follow in Oaklawn Memory Gardens.

Active pallbearers will be Trey Hemp, Josh Hemp, Jordan Hemp, Nathan Fix, Evan Fix and Kevin Basham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-1942.

Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of her arrangements.