Georgian Holsey Gilyard, the daughter of James Burless and Izola McGee Holsey was born on Saturday, August 2, 1924 in Yelvington, Florida. Georgian was educated in the Putnam County School system and a graduate of Central Academy High School, class of 1943. She was an outstanding athlete and was recognized as an All-Star player on the 1941 girls' championship basketball team. On Wednesday, January 19, 1949, Georgian was united in holy matrimony to Wilmer Gilyard and they became the devoted parents of nine children. Due to the untimely transition of their beloved daughter Hazel, she nurtured three adorable grandchildren as her very own. Over the span of her diverse occupational career, Georgian worked as a cook, bus driver, assistant migrant crew leader and as a Head Start Child Care Center employee to provide assistance in support of her family. Nevertheless, her most important and most successful "job" was that of a devoted wife, mother and homemaker. From Georgian's early childhood, she was a member of her family's church, New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of San Mateo. As an esteemed church usher, there are fond and immeasurable memories of Georgian's pride and joy in her longevity of service. Very notable is the inexpressible joy she exhibited in having her and Wilmer's uniforms "super-pressed." (Yes, they were "cleaner than the State Board of Health" and as "sharp as a tack" each Sunday they served.) In later years, she was appointed to the church's Trustee Board, where she served faithfully until declining health prevailed and the honor of "Trustee Emeritus" was bestowed upon her. Georgian's hobbies clearly included reading or listening to her Bible; reading the daily newspaper, and especially shopping because she knew most (if not all) of the good shopping places on the eastern shores all the way from Palatka, Florida to Freehold, New Jersey (and a special skill was keeping her purchases a secret from Wilmer.) She was such a loving and caring person to everyone; however, everybody knew that her most important joy in life was her family. The Gilyard's home has always been the gathering place of San Mateo (aka Grand Central Station.) It is still very much unknown to anyone how she made each and every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many others feel as if he or she was the "special one" of "Grand-momma Georgian". because she catered to each and every one of them. Georgian is preceded in eternal rest by her parents, Izola McGee Holsey, James Burless Holsey and Eunice Floyd Holsey; beloved son, Melvin Gilyard; cherished daughter, Hazel McKinnon; caring sister, Melvise Gilyard; daughter-in-law, Cynthia Gilyard and goddaughter, Patricia Randall Cave. Georgian heard the welcoming voice of her Heavenly Father and peacefully entered eternal rest at 11:45 p.m. on Friday, August 30, 2013 at her residence, 111 Live Oak Street, San Mateo, cared for and surrounded by her devoted and loving family. Those she leaves to treasure, celebrate her life and legacy of love and to carry on her wonderful works are: devoted husband of 63 years: Wilmer Gilyard, Sr., San Mateo; sons & daughters, Levonia Holsey (special friend, Curtis Davis), Hamilton, NJ; Wilmer (Jackie) Gilyard, Jr., Jacksonville; Larry (Linda) Gilyard, Regina (Harry) Thomas, Sandra "Sandy" Gilyard, all of San Mateo; Rodney Gilyard, Palatka; Keith Gilyard, San Mateo; Mitchell McKinnon, San Mateo; Sharon "Sherry" (Bernard) Hardy, Palatka; Fredrick (Claretta) McKinnon, Atlanta, GA; daughters-in-law, Cynthia McKinnon, San Mateo; Helen Gilyard, Palatka; 44 grandchildren, Debra Ivery, Alfred Floyd, LaQuita Williams, Corey Floyd, Angela Brown, LaTangela Gilyard, LaMontique Gilyard, Roshard Gilyard, Raynard Gilyard, Larry Gilyard, Jr., Lorenzo Gilyard, Lucas Gilyard, Ronda Jara, Wilma Williams, Earnest Stokes, Satura Stokes, Marcus Stokes, Rodney Gilyard, Jr., Toronda Gilyard, Tabitha Jackson, Rodnshei Douglas, Cashay Gilyard, Milton Manley, Jr., Shelton Gilyard, Terry Gilyard, Sharod Gilyard, Levonia Offord, Antonio Gilyard, Shashanta Gilyard, Kelana Davis, Kesha Davis, Andre' McKinnon, Yvette McKinnon, Mitchell McKinnon III, Meshay McKinnon, Deontae McKinnon, Precious McKinnon, Taliah Parrish, Tamika McKinnon, Johnnie Givens, Reesie Holsey, Travis McKinnon, Randy McKinnon, Kaila McKinnon; 74 great-grandchildren; 27 great-great grandchildren; sister, Lilla Holsey, San Mateo; sister-in-law, Lillian Gilyard Lee, San Mateo; brother-in-law, Clarence Gilyard, Sr., East Palatka; devoted Cousin, Shirley Wright, Palatka; goddaughters, Vickie Thomas, Palatka; Sonya Greene, Washington, D.C., and Veronica Brown, Palatka; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, , other relatives and caring friends. Visitation of family and friends will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, September 6 at New Bethel A.M.E. Church, 154 North Boundary Road, San Mateo. Homegoing Celebration will be 11 a.m. Saturday, September 7 at Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church, 4909 St. Johns Avenue, Palatka. Rev. Mary Alice Murphy, pastor of New Bethel A.M.E. Church, San Mateo, is the eulogist. Rev. Walter J. Lassiter, II, pastor of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, Port Tampa, is presiding. Interment will be in the San Mateo Cemetery. The cortege will assemble at 10:20 a.m., Saturday at the Browning-Pearce Elementary School, 100 Bear Blvd., San Mateo.