Joan Cloud Gilliam, 83, of Austin, TX, passed away April 26, 2017.
Joan, born in New Orleans, LA on March 24, 1934, to Eva and O.N. Cloud, spent her childhood in Beaumont, TX and graduated from Beaumont High School. She attended the University of Texas and was a journalism major. While in college, she met Wyman Ray Gilliam and they married on December 27, 1953. Joan and Wyman returned to Beaumont where they raised their four children.
In Beaumont, Joan was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Beaumont. She was a member of the Junior League of Beaumont and the Alumnae Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.
The family moved to Houston in 1973 and remained there until 1990 when she and Wyman relocated to their farm in the Austin area where they raised registered miniature horses. Joan was past President and Charter Member of the American Miniature Horse Registry Club of Texas.
She is survived by her children, Lynne Gilliam Bordeaux and her husband H.V.; Wyman Ray Gilliam, Jr.; Scott Cloud Gilliam and his wife, Cara; Joan was known as “Nana” to her grandchildren, Angela Gahan Kimbrough, James Daniel Gahan, Connor Cloud Gilliam; and great-granddaughter, Christina Jasmine Elizondo. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Wyman, their daughter Jennifer Grace Gilliam, her parents, Eva and O.N. Cloud, her brother, Orrin Cloud and sister, Yvonne Cloud Verble.
A memorial service for Mrs. Gilliam will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13, 2017, at First United Methodist Church of Beaumont, 701 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, and her interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir and Organ Funds, 701 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701; or any organization of choice.
