Henry L. Gillis

Henry Lee Gillis, Sr., entered into eternal rest on July 6, 2012, at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, VA. Early in his life he accepted Christ as his savior and was baptized at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Lincolnia, Virginia, and later joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. He was born Henry Lee Johnson on June 16, 1935, in Louisa, Virginia, to the late Thomas M. Johnson and the late Maggie Louise Johnson Gillis. Since he had used the name Henry Lee Gillis from early childhood when his mother married John Mitchell Gillis after the death of his father, he legally changed his name to Henry Lee Gillis. He was predeceased by his only sibling, James ?Skip? Edward Gillis. Henry received his education in public schools in Falls Church, VA, where he attended with his good friend the late Eugene ?Slim? Tucker who also would become his brother-in-law. He married the late Geneva G. Gil-lis on July 23, 1955, and from that union seven children were born. He supported his rather large family as a Machine Operator for the Washington Gas utility company where he worked for twenty-six years and re-ceived numerous awards and honors until his retirement in 1995. While employed at Washington Gas, Henry was also the founder, Chief Executive Officer, and chief mechanic of H.L. Gillis Trucking; a business that em-ployed drivers to haul from private construction sites and assisted the Virginia Department of Transportation with snow removal during adverse weather conditions. He was also a skilled brick mason and talented de-signer who initiated and completed his own home improvements. He visited Mt. Sinai at the urging of Bishop James C. Wells and joined Mt. Sinai under the leadership of the late Pastor David Durham in 1981. Though Henry was quite fond of both these gentlemen, neither had a greater impact than Virginia J. Gillis who he affectionately referred to as his ?Queen.? Henry and Virginia wed at Mt. Sinai on October 20, 2001, under the thunderous applause of the congregation and celebrated their tenth anniversary this past fall. Henry loved reading God?s word and cherished listening to Virginia pray and read scriptures aloud; he was comforted by her readings within an hour of his final resting time Friday after-noon when she recited his favorite scripture ? Psalm 23. Henry considered himself blessed with faith, family, and Virginia J. Gillis. Earlier this week Pastor Queen described him as a diligent servant. He joined the Mt. Sinai Usher Ministry in 1985, became an Honorary Usher in 2010, and served on the Security Ministry as well. Henry was a member of Family Unit #10 and supported anything and everything Mt. Sinai related. When not engaged in activities related to the church, he enjoyed cheering the Redskins and Wizards to victory with his wife, Virginia. Left to celebrate his legacy and precious memories are his devoted and faithful wife, Virginia J. Gillis; Henry Gillis, Jr., Shirley Gillis-Camper (Roy), Annette Gillis, Sherman Keith Gillis (Robin), Eva Gillis (Alvin Lewis), and Frances Gillis. (He was preceded in death by his first-born, daughter Brenda Louise Gillis Nelson.) He also leaves step-daughter Paulette Branch (Lane); sister-in-laws Bertha Tucker, Mary Booker Tucker, and Florine Culley; grandchildren Henry Gillis, III, Dana Nelson, Frederick Nelson, Danielle Camper-Jackson, Erinn Hamlin, Geneva Gillis, Gena Gillis, and Daynen Korneagy Gillis; step-grandson Eric Branch; great grandsons Julius Gil-lis, Nehemiah Jackson, and Erinn Hamlin, Jr.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, dear friends, and treasured Mt. Sinai family. Please click here to view the video tribute

Henry L. Gillis

June 16, 1935 - July 6, 2012