A Man to be Remembered

 

As a blank canvas our lives begin. Although God knows how the portrait will end. He gives us a chance to dip our brush in the paint and apply to the canvas beautiful colors of lasting memories.

 

The initial strokes of paint were applied to the canvas of Errol Dwain Gilliard, Sr.’s life on the twenty-ninth day of November 1957. He was the eight child of Mamie and Hugh T. Gilliard. Five siblings preceded him in death.

 

At an early age Errol knew he was going to be a preacher, this was also seen by many neighbors in the 1000 block of Fayette Street where he would often times preach the funerals of animals.

 

He was always an organizer and self-starter. Errol has been described by his family as honest, lovable, a genius, ambitious, talented, kind hearted, funny, hood and fearless; all while constantly encouraging, motivating, teaching, guiding, and nurturing to all of his siblings. HE WAS JUST ONE OF A KIND!!!

 

His very first job was that of a printer at Harbor Printers located on East Baltimore Street.

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In 1980 Errol welcomed into this world along with Brenda Cooper (Green), Errol D. Gilliard, Jr,. During Errol Jr.’s childhood, his relationship and bond with his father was inseparable. As a young teen, Errol Jr. gave the gift of a grandson, Donte Errol Gilliard. Through these years the bond between Errol Sr., Jr. and Donte was inseparable.

 

Errol began going on missions and prison visits with his God-mother, Missionary Lois Proctor; and while with her, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

Rev. Gilliard matriculated at the Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, and received a plethora of Honorary Doctorates and Citations, the Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia, and the Honorary Doctor of Humanity and Doctor of Divinity from the Determined Biblical Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He most recently was attending Palmer Theological Seminary (Wynnewood, Pennsylvania).

 

He was licensed and ordained to preach the Gospel under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Ray at the Morning Star Baptist Church of Christ. Rev. Gilliard was called to pastorate of the New Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in 1981, where he served for four years. On October 1, 1985, he received the call to pastor the Grater Harvest Baptist Church, where he served for thirty-one years.

 

The Greater Harvest Baptist Church grew tremendously under Pastor Gilliard’s leadership. He has organized the Greater Harvest Baptist Church Housing Corporation as well as the Family Life Center.

 

On January 5, 2015, Rev. Gilliard was installed as the President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity. Under Rev. Gilliard’s Presidency, the Baptist Ministers Conference regained its zeal and was pushed to go higher as Rev. Gilliard pushed his Holy Ghost-inspired agenda; implementing intercessory prayer, allowing younger ministers to preach every 4th Monday, and most recently changing the name of the conference to “Ministers Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity”.

 

Rev. Gilliard’s passion and driving force is the gospel imperative to “GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD, AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.”

 

He leaves to cherish his memory: his son, Errol Dwain Gilliard, Jr.; grandson, Donte Errol Gilliard; two sisters, Rosa Gilliard and Barbara Gilliard; four brothers, James Lester Gilliard Sr., Robert Lee Gilliard, Raymond Eugene Gilliard, and Wayne Leake; twelve nieces and nephews, James Jr., Valencia, Dashanda, Adrian Sr., Tyra, Tory, Davar, Tiffany, Nikea, Jammese, Marcus and Terica; a host of great nieces and nephews and family members and a devoted and dedicated friend, Shernal Brown.

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Rev. Gilliard always stated when he preached funerals that no one has a host of friends and if you can find two good ones, you are blessed!