Daytona Beach Morning Journal
August 12, 1976
McLaurin B. "Gill" Gllliam, 60, owner-operator of the colorful Ormond Beach restaurant, Gill's Barbecue, until his retirement about a year and a half ago, died Wednesday at Halifax Hospital after a lengthy illness. He lived at 782 S. Yonge St., Ormond Beach.
The restaurant was taken over by his son, Briggs, several months before a disastrous fire destroyed the building in May, 1975. It has since been rebuilt and retains much of the memorabilia which helped to make it famous, including more than 1,000 old auto tags and many old newspapers.
The original restaurant was built in 1953 and the barbecue sauce recipe was and still is, a family secret.
Mr. Gilliam was born in Blackville, S.C., and came here in 1953 from Miami. He was a veteran of World War II having served as aviation chief machinist in the Navy.
He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1590, Daytona Beach; BPOE Lodge 1141, Daytona Beach; and a past member of the Optimist Club in Miami.
Survivors include his widow, Hazel; a daughter, Mrs. Jonelle Brown, Samsula; one son, McLaurin Briggs Gilliam Jr., Ormond Beach; and 11 grandchildren.
Woodward, Holly Hill, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
GILLIAM, MR. MCLAURIN B. (Gill) - funeral service for Mr. McLaurin B. (Gill) Gilliam 60, 782 S. Young St., Ormond Beach, who passed away Wednesday morning at the Halifax hospital, will be held at 11 AM Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1125 6th St., Holly Hill.
Friends may pay their respects From 2 until 5 and 7 until 9 pm, Thursday and Friday at the Dale Woodward funeral home, Holly Hill.
Burial will be in the Bellevue Memorial cemetery and the committal service will be conducted by the Veterans of foreign wars post no 1590, Daytona beach.
Mr. Gilliam had lived there here since 1953, coming from Miami, and owned an operated Gill's Bar-B-Que on US 1.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post number 1590, Daytona Beach, member of the Elks B.P.O.E. no. 1141, Daytona Beach, and a member of the Optimus club, Miami Florida.
Mr. Gilliam was born in Blacksville, South Carolina and during World War II was aviation chief machinist serving in the South Pacific.
Survivors includes wife, Hazel, Ormond Beach, one daughter, Mrs. Janelle, Brown Samsula, and one son McLaurin Briggs Gilliam Junior, Ormond Beach, and 11 grandchildren.
Dale Woodward, funeral home, Holly Hill, is in charge of arrangements.