Mr. Gilliam Franklin Guthrie, age 86, of Mayfield passed away on Monday, October 23, 2023 at Green Acres Health Care in Mayfield, Ky.
He was a longtime member of High Point Baptist Church in Mayfield and served in several leadership roles over the years.
If you knew Gilliam, you heard stories of the antics that came from a house full of boys and their spirited mother, Annie. Most of the stories were true and all of them were embellished depending on which brother was telling them. Gilliam’s early stories were spun around playing tricks, Annie, swimming in the pond by their house and sleeping in the corn crib. From there, the stories went to the start of his basketball career at Sedalia where he was named All-Purchase player in 1956 while being coached by McCoy Tarry. After graduating from high school, Gilliam and Adron Doran, a graves countian and President of Morehead State University, convinced his new wife, Bettye, to leave the flatland for the mountains of eastern Kentucky where he played basketball. That lasted for a year before Bettye convinced him to return home. He graduated from Bethel College in McKenzie Tennessee in 1961 and completed his Masters Degree in 1972 at Southeast Missouri University.
During his career, he was a high school teacher and basketball coach in southeastern Missouri at Parma, Essex and Bell City. From there, the family moved to Vienna, Illinois where he continued as a teacher, coach, school board member and city alderman. In 1977, Gilliam brought the family back to Kentucky when he began working as the Parks Director for the city of Mayfield. He retired after working for 15 years in lumber sales with Rhodes Supply and Dairyman Supply.
Gilliam is survived by one son, Tim (Carla) Guthrie of Lexington, KY; three grandchildren, Kyle Harshman of Mayfield, KY, Kaci (Cody) Hammonds of Mayfield, KY and Cole Guthrie of Lexington, KY; and two great grandsons, Hudson Hammonds and Hank Franklin Hammonds.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bettye Jane Wilson Guthrie, married 67 years; one daughter, Krista Denise Guthrie Harshman; five brothers, Howard C. Guthrie, Harold (Sonny) Guthrie, E.C. (Jr.) Guthrie, Larry Guthrie and Raymond Stroud; and his parents E.C. Guthrie and Annie Morefield Guthrie.
Funeral services for Mr. Gilliam Franklin Guthrie will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, KY. Rev. Don Embry will officiate. Interment will follow at Highland Park Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Kent Guthrie, Carson Guthrie, Clay Guthrie, Kevin Guthrie, Al Guthrie, Don Oldham, Dan Boyd and Josh Wilson. Honorary pallbearers will be David Guthrie, Cliff Guthrie, Keith Haygood, Bro. Charlie Simmons, Ray Hendon, Ronnie Wilson, Vernon McCree and Andrew Shultz.
Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023 at the funeral home.