Essie Grant Gillispie

Essie Grant Gillispie, 86, passed away Sunday, August 29, 2010, with her immediate family by her side.  She was the wife of the late Lloyd E. Gillispie.

Mrs. Gillispie was born Saturday, November 24, 1923, a daughter of the late Morty C. Grant and Mary Willie Garrett Grant.  She was retired from General Electric.

She is survived by a daughter, Patricia Gillispie Canody and her husband, Gerald; a son, Lloyd "Buck" Gillispie, Jr. and his wife, Freida; and four grandchildren, Kathryn Canody Oates and husband David, Kimberly Canody Shaffer, Jeremy Todd Canody and wife, Christy and Amanda Gillispie Blankenship and husband, Rodney.  She has two granddaughters by marriage, ten great grandchildren, and two great grandchildren by marriage.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by a son, William Gillispie and a daughter, Deborah Gillispie Childress.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 PM on Thursday, September 2, 2010 at Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg.  A celebration of Essie's life will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 3, 2010, at Fort Hill United Methodist Church with the Rev. Phillip Waltz, the Rev. Janet Hawkins and the Rev. Judy Morris officiating.  Private interment will take place in Fort Hill Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice House, 4413 Boonsboro Road, Lynchburg, VA, 24503.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.