Mr. Roy Lee Gilreath, Sr., age 100, of Rome, GA, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2026, at a local assisted living facility.
Mr. Gilreath was born in Chattooga County, GA, on November 19, 1925, son of the late John Harrison Gilreath and the late Bessie Edith Sams Gilreath. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life, Mary Virginia Turner Gilreath, 2 sons, Donald Gordon Gilreath and Danny Ray Gilreath, a son-in-law, Don Bosin, 4 sisters, Beatrice Holland, Ann Trawoski, Mozelle Elsensohn, and Susie Myers, and by 2 brothers, James Frank Gilreath and John Calvin Gilreath. A proud Navy Veteran of WWII, Mr. Gilreath was a Coxswain of Amphibious Landing Crafts having been a part of 5 major amphibious assaults. The first was 2 weeks prior to his 17th birthday and the last was 5 months prior to his 19th birthday which culminated in the storming of Omaha Beach on D-Day. Mr. Gilreath retired from the City of Rome, Street Department, where he spent the final 17 years of his working career as a construction foreman. He was a lifetime member of Amvets and a Mason for over 75 years, having been a part of both the Cherokee Lodge #66 F&AM and the Etowah Chapter #30 O.E.S. Mr. Gilreath was a member of Pisgah Baptist Church and dedicated his life to the ministries of his Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star (along with his wife), and his church.
Survivors include his 3 children, Judy Bosin, Villa Rica, Roy Gilreath, Jr. (Donna Barton), Rome, and Tammy Tidwell (Barry), Aragon; 5 grandchildren, Chris Henderson (Becky), Matt Henderson (Nicole), Jeffrey Gilreath (Laranda), Josh Burkhalter (Sarah), and Jessica Tidwell-Weinzierl (Evan); 4 great grandchildren, Meleah Gilreath, Ginny Henderson, Lucas Henderson, and Charli Alys Henderson; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Sunday, June 7, 2026, in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Roach and Dr. Jerry Dudley officiating. Interment will take place in East View Cemetery at a later date.
The family will receive friends from 1pm until service time on Sunday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel.
Pallbearers are to assemble by 2:30pm on Sunday at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, and include: Chris Henderson, Matt Henderson, Jeffrey Gilreath, Josh Burkhalter, Lucas Henderson, Mark Wheeler, Todd Wheeler, and T.J. Grogan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to either: Heyman HospiceCare at Floyd, 420 E. Second Ave., #103, Rome, GA 30161, or to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, by clicking here or by mail to P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268.
Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, South Chapel, is honored to serve the family of Mr. Roy Lee Gilreath, Sr.
