Ethel Tate Gillman

Ethel Tate Gillman, age 86, a resident of the Prosperity Community passed away Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Bonifay, Florida. She was born March 20, 1939, in Coffee County, Alabama to Doc and Edner Tate.  Ethel was a strong independent woman and person of deep faith. She attended Reedy Assembly of God Church most of her life, then later attended Mount Pleasant Assembly of God. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward “Bill” Gillman; daughter, Theresa Hamilton; two sisters, Jeanette Brown and Grace Eldridge; and four brothers, Bill Tate, Jim Tate, Doc Tate, Jr., and James Harrison.

Ethel is survived by one daughter, Debra Sheppo and husband, Pat; three grandchildren, Sabrina Archer, Nikole Arrant and husband, Joseph, and Vanessa Brannon and husband, Justin; seven great grandchildren, Brianna, Savanna, and Riley Archer, Caleb, Caiden, and Casen Arrant, and  Abigail Brannon; one great grand on the way, Sadie Bell Brannon; and one brother, Charles Tate.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in the chapel of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home at 1474 State Highway 83 North in DeFuniak Springs, Florida beginning at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor James Lamb officiating.  A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.  Committal services will follow at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery of Westville.

Arrangements and services are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home.