WAYCROSS — Wannelle Bryant Gillis, 87, of Waycross, died Sunday evening, January 25, 2026, at Waycross Health and Rehabilitation Center after an extended illness.
She was born in Blackshear to the late Charles Jefferson Bryant and Mary Cook Bryant. Ms. Gillis worked with her husband at B&G Foods in Millwood, and also as a secretary for Ware County High School and Georgia Farm Bureau in Waycross.
Ms. Gillis was an active member of Pineview Baptist Church in Waresboro where she served the church in numerous capacities and loved singing in the choir. She enjoyed reading, traveling and shopping. Her passion was quilting, and she was a member of the first Quilt Guild at the Okefenokee Heritage Center.
Ms. Gillis is survived by four children, Renee Beverly and her husband, Bryan, of Waycross, Rebecca Blanchard and her husband, Ike, of Hoboken, Rachelle Howling and her husband, Brent, of Waycross, and James L. Gillis, Jr., and his wife, Brandy, of Waycross; 10 grandchildren, Tiffany Lee, Kristen Smith and her husband, Ben, James L. “Trey” Gillis, III and his wife, Annie, Kourtney Schmitt and her husband, Travis, Kameron Gillis and his wife, Cassie, Zeke Gillis, Trevor Blanchard, Tyler Blanchard, Breanna Kinlaw and her husband, Colt, and Slater Hodge and his wife, Amy; 14
Gillis
great grandchildren, Cailin Lee, Katie Lee, Blaine Smith, Nora Smith, Bella Harris, Emma Kinlaw, Stella Smith, Avie Schmitt, River Schmitt, Kade Schmitt, Langston Kinlaw, Tucker Gillis, Josie Gillis, and Lawton Gillis; one sister, Yvonne Parr of Blackshear; one brother, Charles Bryant and his wife, Deborah, of Blackshear, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, January 29, in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel. An entombment will follow in the Greenlawn Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.
