Virginia Purkey Gilliam, age 87, was called to her heavenly home by her heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Signature Healthcare in Rogersville. She was a warm, kind, sweet, and loving mother and precious grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all her family, friends, and the staff at Signature Healthcare. She had a heart of gold and never met a stranger and loved everyone she met. She loved the Lord and loved singing for the Lord with an undying passion. She was the hardest working woman we’ve ever known and had kindness for everyone and would feed anyone that came to her home. Special thanks to the staff and nurses of Signature Healthcare of Rogersville and thanks to the Lord for letting her not suffer in her last days. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Minnie Hill; husbands, Fred Purkey and Charlie Gilliam; and son, Jerry Purkey. She is survived by her sons, James “Eddie” (Pat) Purkey and Harold (Marilyn) Purkey; grandchildren, Jeremy Todd Purkey, Lunn Purkey and family of Delafield, Wisconsin, Elizabeth Dawn Purkey Ogle, Ricky Purkey of Newport, Crystal Holt and family of Newport, Nickolas Purkey and family of Newport, and Michelle Purkey Douglas of Chattanooga; and several great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 21 at Westside Chapel Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Clifford Dalton and Rev. Jerry Johnson officiating. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 22 at Hamblen Memory Gardens.    Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

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