Lavinia Tate Gillison

Lavinia Tate Gillison, 74, of Berryville, Virginia died Saturday December 16, 2006 at her home.

Mrs. Gillison was born June 12, 1932 in Staunton, VA., the daughter of the late Luther Tate and Lavinia Branson Tate. Mrs. Gillison attended D.W. Davis and T.C. Edmunds Elementary Schools and graduated from Brooker T. Washington High School in 1949. She graduated from Virginia State College in 1953 with a B.A. Degree in Elementary Education. She taught school for 37 years in Clarke County and Waynesboro, Virginia in addition, she was a musician and played in three churches for 37 years. Mrs. Gillison enjoyed writing poetry, playing the piano, drawing pictures and reading the newspaper.

She was married to Robert C. Gillison, Sr. who preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish her memory three sons; Robert C. Gillison, Jr. of King George, VA., James A. Gillison IV of Reston, VA., and Rodney E. Gillison of Berryville, VA.; one daughter, Mary L. Gillison of Berryville, VA.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Three sisters, Mary Davis, Elaine Henderson, and Helaine Venable; four brothers, Joseph Tate and Clarence Tate, Luther M. Tate, Jr., and David Tate all preceded her in death.

A Celebration of Life Service will be 2:00 pm Wednesday December 20, 2006 at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Berryville, VA. with the Rev. Wibur Dameron giving the Eulogy.

Friends may call Tuesday December 19, 2006 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Cartwright Funeral Home in Winchester, VA.

Family will receive friend Tuesday evening 7 to 8:30 pm at Zion Baptist the church in Berryville, VA.

Burial will be in Milton Valley Cemetery in Berryville, VA.

Pallbearers will be friends of the family

Memorial contributions can be sent to:

Scholarship Fund at

Josephine School Community Museum
303 Josephine Street
Berryville, Virginia 22611

Ministry of Comfort Entrusted To
Cartwright Funeral Home
Winchester, Virginia