Joseph Edward Gilliam, Jr, of Valrico, Fl died from an apparent heart attack in his sleep on Thursday, August 12, 2010 at the age of 66 in Bowling Green, OH. Joe was born April 1, 1944 in Portsmouth, Virginia to Eddie and Mary Gilliam. Joe is a 1962 graduate of Cradock High School in Portsmouth, VA. He received a master's degree in Bible and Ancient Languages from Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. In addition, he received a master's degree in Educational Administration from Kansas State University.

Joe met and married the love of his life, Nancy at Cradock High School. They were married for 47 years. Together, they served in church ministry as a senior pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Salina, KS for seven years. He was Dean of Brown Mackey Business College and later began his career as a professional speaker and business consultant at Jack Parr Associates. He started his own business, Joe GilliamSeminars, in Tampa, FL and developed a relationship with National Seminars as an independent contractor for the last twenty years. He was the author and presenter of "Winner in You", "How to Coach an Effective Team "and "How to Handle Difficult People".

Joe was passionate about self improvement and helping people to become all they could be. He invited participants to start down the road to self-improvement and then gave them encouragement along the way. Joe was considered by many as a mentor and great friend. He received Jesus Christ as his Savior during his freshman year in college, taught Sunday school, served as a deacon and recently attended a mission church in Valrico. He loved God unashamedly and his desire was to see others follow Christ. Coach Joe changed the lives of many, not only those who attended his seminars but those who read his morning messages. He loved to minister to people through birthday, anniversary or sympathy cards.

He loved to read his Bible, history, and Christian fiction. His favorite things to do were to go to the beach, attend theatre and the movies, and travel. He had a stack of Bible verses that he was memorizing with him when he died. He hardly went a day without his morning walk. Joe loved watching basketball, softball, and especially Gator football. He loved to participate in his children and grandkids lives, attending many piano recital, softball and baseball games, and theatre productions. Anything his kids or grandkids were involved in, he supported.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Nancy, their children, Angie and Dan Reid, Sean and Marion Gilliam and Karis and Chris Denhoff. Grandchildren are as follows, Cole Gilliam, Olivia Denhoff, Sarah Gilliam, Nathaniel Reid, Seth Reid, Danielle Reid, Hayden Gilliam (deceased), Grace Denhoff, Cade Denhoff, and Hope Denhoff. Joe is also survived by his mother, Mary Gilliam and his brother, Evangelist, Tom Gilliam and his wife, Beth of Watkinsville, GA as well as their three sons, John, Charles and Joseph and their families. He will be missed by Nancy's brother, Lew his wife Tammy and their children, Tyana and Drew and also his mother-in-law, Lora Flowers.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm at Serenity Meadows, Riverview, FL and the funeral services will be on Tuesday, August 17th at 11am at Bell ShoalsBaptistChurch in Brandon, Fl. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to JourneyChurch, 1411 Peachfield, Drive, Valrico, FL33596 in his memory.