WAYCROSS — Wannelle Bryant Gillis, 87 of Waycross, died Sunday evening, January 25, 2026 at Waycross Health and Rehabilitation Center after an extended illness.
Ms. Gillis was born in Blackshear to the late Charles Jeff erson Bryant and Mary Cook Bryant. She 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. Ms. Gillis’s passion was quilting, and she was a member of the first Quilt Guild at the Okefenokee Heritage Center.
She was a member of the 1955 graduating class of Blackshear High School, and was always active in class reunion coordinating.
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 great grandchildren, Cailin Lee, Katie Lee, Blaine Smith, Nora Smith, Bella Harris,
Gillis
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 was held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Janury 29, 2026, in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel.
An entombment followed in the Greenlawn Mausoleum.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.
Memorialization will be by cremation.
Music Funeral Home was in charge of arrancements.
