Jo Anne VanHorn Gilliam, 81 of Woodlawn, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at Hillsville Health and Rehabilitation.  She was born in Catawba, North Carolina, on December 21, 1943 to Joseph Glenn VanHorn and Annie Ruth Fulbright VanHorn.  At age 3, she and her family moved to Ridgeway Farm in Brookneal, Virginia.  Jo Anne attended Charlotte County Public Schools and graduated from Randolph-Henry in Charlotte Court House, Virginia.  She pursued a business career and graduated from Phillips Business College in Lynchburg, Virginia.

On December 31, 1966, she married Larry F. Gilliam of Phenix, Virginia.  In 1969 they moved to Galax, Virginia where their two sons, John Ford Gilliam (1970) and Glenn Edward Gilliam (1974) were born.

She was an active member of the Hillsville Charter No. 71 Order of the Eastern Star.  She served the Hillsville Chapter as Worthy Grand Matron and Organist and served the Grand Chapter of Virginia, OES, as Grand Organist in 1988-1989.  She was an accomplished pianist and enjoyed serving her church, Victory Way Baptist Church, through music.  She retired from Southwestern Virginia Training Center with 31 years of service.

She is survived by sons John Ford Gilliam and Glenn Edward Gilliam (Wendy); and grandchildren, Blaine Gilliam, Sarah M. Gilliam and Garron H. Gilliam.

A graveside service with burial following will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Wilkinson Memorial Cemetery at 2:00 PM with Pastor Joe Bryant officiating. Eastern Star services will be conducted at the service by the Hillsville Chapter No. 71 Order of the Eastern Star.  Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel is serving the family.