_ <* James Harding Gillespie 1921 - 2009 ee GDEN - Jim was one of fourteen children born to-Robert L. and _senera Gregory Gillespie, March 27, 1921, in Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. Of the nine boys, he was the last man standtwo of his five sisters survive, _ Ing, _ Clide “Bardwell of Memphis TN | -and.Susie Smith of Gretna, LA. | _ He passed away on a day that} _ the Lord had made, May 13, | —2009;He was 88 years old. _. ‘Ata young age, Jim moved to|) Ogdenin 1942 to serve with the |) _US?.Army Air Corp (USAC). ‘was-a-veteran of World War Il. He | @ | ‘With the backdrop of the} Wasatch. Mountains in the east| and a sunset over the Great Salt _Lake in the west, he remained in Ogden. He worked as a civilian at .the Defense Depot Ogden (DDO) fulfilling 42 years of federal service including his tour of duty with the USAC: His final position at DDO was Equal Employment Opportuni- ty Manager and as a collateral duty, he was the Blood Donation Coordinator for the American Red Cross. He freely carried a visually impaired man to work everyday. Jim attended public’school in Starkville and Weber State University in Ogden. He was married to Marquita Bradshaw (deceased) and four children were born to this , union, Ina Raye, James Jr. (Antonia), Robert (Janet) and © ade Russell (deceased). > ae In March of 1957, Jim married Bettye Berliner Johnson and this year they celebrated their 52nd anniversary. Their three daughters aré' Shauna (Matthew), Deon and Kendall. Grandchildren include Robin (Mike), Erin, Robby, Missy, Jamii (Kelly), Adrienne, John, Emmett (Marissa), and Calise. There are also ten great-grandchildren, _ one’ great, great-grandchild and nine step great-grandchildren. Civil rights and community service had always been his passion. He was president of the American Federation of Government Em-ployees (AFGE) at DDO, Commander of American Legion Post 66. _ and Chairman of the West Coast Region of NAACP. : ___A‘ife member of NAACP, he served as president of the Ogden Braneh for 33 years and upon retirement was proclaimed President ~ Emeritus of the Ogden Branch. ) i i --dim's dedication and involvement also includes serving as a charter member of the Ogden Area Community Action Agency _ Board, charter member of the Governors Black Advisory Council, _ KUED: and KTVX Community Boards, the Private Industry Council, Utah Coalition of Resources, EEO Council of Utah, and Mountain States Coalition Against Malicious Harassment. His many awards and honors include. Community Service Jim was preceded in death by his parents, eight brothers, three _ Awards from the Clearfield and Weber Basin Job Corps Centers, sisters, a half-brother, half sister and a son. In addition to his wife, | Black Scholars United of Weber State University, Ogden Area Head > surviving children and grandchildren, he leaves to mourn a host of © Start and Marshall White Community Center, Omega Psi Phi Citizen _ “nieces, nephews and friends. — | _ <The Gillespie-Gregory Family acknowledges with sincere appre- _ of the Year, Meritorious Service Award for Heroic Act-DDO, Sus4 tained’ Superior Performance award-DDO, Distinguished Community | ciation the compassionate and gentle care provided by Nurse College Service from the Black Scholars United of Weber State Uni‘Sharon_and Chaplain Phil and the Vista Care group, Jenna, Doversity, Western Region NAACP Challenge Award, Governors Bee-. r hivé Award (Martin Luther King, Jr. Award), for Distinguished Service; Department of Justice Special Appreciation Award, Centennial | - May the Lord shed his magnificent grace over you all. _ Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 11 | Community Service Award-Governors Office of Black Affairs and apa.m. at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., in Ogden. Family preciation awards from the Ogden Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma _ Theta Sorority and from the Utah Minority Bar Association. and friends may call on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday pri| __» October 5, 1996 was proclaimed by then Mayor Glenn Mecham, or to the service from 10-11 a.m. at the mortuary. : | Me James-Harding Gillespie Day. _ Interment, Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch. | | o ) _. After retirement Jim created the most picturesque flower and - Condolences may be sent to the family at vegetable garden that one could ever imagine. From apples to zucyy aad ~ www.myers-mortuary.com. chini, you name it, he grew it and’ most of his fruits and vegetables _ wefeegiven to an organization called Share the Harvest-Utahns " an i Gao ) _ ‘Against Hunger. al Sa 50) Chaplain hil api se: Vga Cape roy, lene. Do. A a ir ae ehiaehoers, Et nT,