Alva Lynn Gilliam

Alva "Alvie" Gilliam, age 77, of Jackson, formerly of Potosi, Missouri, passed away Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home. Alvie was born December 9, 1946, in Ironton, Missouri, to Alva L. and Judith Franklin Gilliam. He was a 1964 graduate of Potosi High School, where he excelled in baseball and football and still held the record for the most tackles in a single game. He and Donna (McCullough) Wiggins were married November 18, 2006, in Potosi. He attended Mineral Area College for a year. He then worked for Chrysler Corporation in St. Louis and St. Joe Minerals Corp. in Viburnum, Missouri. He later owned and operated Save-A-Lot Grocery stores in Potosi, Fredericktown, and Salem. Those who knew Alvie, knew that Christ and his family were the most important things in his life, and he was always an active church member. He was most recently a member of Potosi Southern Baptist Church, Esther Baptist Church in Park Hills, Missouri, and currently Mercy Hill Church in Jackson. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 131 AF & AM, in Potosi, and was an avid fan of St. Louis Cardinals Baseball and the Mizzou Tigers. Loving survivors include his wife of 17 years, Donna Gilliam of Jackson; five children, Kevin (Ronda) Gilliam of Farmington, Missouri, Rodney Gilliam of Ribera, New Mexico; Elizabeth (Timothy) Verhearst of Hillsboro, Missouri, Ashley Conway of Jackson, and Blake (Heather) Gilliam of Jackson; a brother, Gary (Debbie) Gilliam of Potosi; a sister-in-law, Alice (the late Stephen) Gilliam; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three nieces; an uncle; three aunts; several cousins; two stepsons, Travis Wiggins of Jackson and Trent Wiggins of Fredericktown; Donna's sister, Kim (Richard) Jones of Jackson; and many friends. He was preceded in death by a brother, Stephen Gilliam, his parents, Alva L. and Judith Franklin Gilliam; a nephew, John Edward Gilliam; and Donna's parents, Don and Sharon Bishop McCullough. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Potosi Southern Baptist Church in Potosi. The Rev. Aaron Campbell, assisted by the Rev. Wayne Isgriggs, and Dr. Todd Buck will conduct a life celebration ceremony at 1 p.m., Thursday, at the church. Interment will follow at Red Bud Memorial Park Cemetery in Potosi. If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests Mercy Hill Church Building Fund (Jackson, Mo.). Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Alva's obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.