Jean B. Gillis

Jeannie Bedford Gillis passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025 after a brief but brave battle with cancer. Until the end Jeannie maintained her kindness, grace, compassion, appreciation of beauty, love of family and friends, and expressed gratitude for her charmed life, full of wonderful and varied experiences.

Born in Mississippi to a Memphis family, Jeannie was the daughter of a career Army officer and was raised all over the world. She spent years at posts including Fort Leavenworth, Carlisle Barracks, Fort Bragg, and in Japan and Norway before graduating from the Dreux American High School outside of Paris.

Visiting her parents at Fort Sheridan on a holiday break from Memphis State University, she met the love of her life, George Gillis, the handsome son of her parents’ neighbors. They married in 1967 and settled in Atlanta where they made their home for the rest of their lives.

Jeannie made friends wherever she went: neighborhood groups, garden club, and most every shop in Buckhead. She worked as a decorator and had a talent for making everything around her pretty and bespoke, but most of her family suspects that her business was a convenient excuse to acquire pieces for her own house where she never let the practical get in the way of the whimsical or beautiful. She will be sorely missed by her dear friends, colleugues, co-conspirators, and local proprietors.

Her family, especially her beloved grandchildren, will remember the tremendous love she had for them. They will treasure fond memories of their play house, the garden fairy, and trips with Mimi and Granddaddy. They will carry on the tradition of purple cows and orange slice cookies.

Jeannie is survived by her son William Jordan Gillis (Leigh Ann), grandchildren Ann Bedford Gillis and Thomas Wood Gillis of Great Falls, VA; and her brother, William K. Bedford (Margaret), niece Amanda Bedford Runquist (Eric), and nephew Chris Logan (Mindy) of Jacksonville, FL; and niece Meg Bedford Hoiriis (Paul) of Laconia, New Hampshire.

Jeannie was preceded in death by her parents, COL and Mrs. William H. Bedford and her beloved husband George S. Gillis.

A memorial service will take place at Patterson & Sons Funeral Home at 4550 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319 on December 21st at 2pm. A reception will immediately follow at Jeannie’s house.