Mark Douglas Gilliam

Mark Douglas Gilliam, 52, of Richmond, Texas passed away May 14, 2013 in Colorado County in a tragic auto accident. Mark was born July 14, 1960 to Howard and Mary Gilliam of La Porte, Texas and moved to Rockport in 1967. He graduated from Rockport-Fulton High School in 1978 and played the saxophone in the band. He worked at the Rockport HEB during high school and college, working his way up to night manager. Mark was a member of the First Baptist Church of Rockport and sang bass in the Rockport Gospel Force Police Quartet. He was co-founder of the annual Rockport Gospel Music Festival. He was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason - Rockport Lodge 323 and a Shriner Al-Amin Shrine Temple Corpus Christi. In 1979 he became a reserve Deputy Sheriff for Aransas County. In 1981 he graduated from the Del-Mar Regional Police Academy and began a lifelong career in law enforcement starting with the Rockport Police Department as a patrolman, working up to Sergeant, Detective in Criminal Investigations, Community Services and the Marine Safety Division and was named Officer of the Year in 1997 and 1988. Mark was a 1992 graduate of the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute and the 212th Session of the FBI National Academy in 2003. Mark was elected Sheriff of Aransas County and served two terms from 2001-2008. He was awarded “Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of 2001”, American Society for Industrial Security; appointed as a commissioner, Texas Commission on Jail Standards by Governor Rick Perry in 2004 serving 4 years; “Bert Ford Commendation”, Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission, 2002 and Advisory Board Member, Coastal Bend CASA until 2008. He was an active member of the Sheriff's Association of Texas and served on the Board of Director's from 2006-2007. Mark was a charter and life member of South Rockport Neighbors and a graduate of Leadership Aransas County. Mark’s hobbies were playing his Tenor Sax, listening to Jazz music and riding his Harley. He was a life member of the NRA and Eddie Eagle instructor; member of the Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and the Republic Chapter Harley Owners Group.

Mark never met a stranger, known for his kindness, generosity and smile. He was slow to anger and quick to forgive and forget. He was passionate about making his community a safer place through community involvement, encouraging the public and law enforcement to work together. During his first term as Aransas County Sheriff Mark and Chief Deputy Rick McLester were instrumental in obtaining approval and funding to build the Public Safety Center and the Aransas County Detention Center. The Public Safety Center brought all branches of local and state law enforcement to a central location sharing resources and dispatching. He entertained local school children and residents of many area nursing homes and RV Parks playing Christmas carols and hymns on his saxophone and singing with other musicians. Rockport was always home to Mark no matter where he lived.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Enise Gilliam and his dear friend, “Mama” Bea DeVore. Survivors include his wife, Vicki Marshall-Gilliam; father and step-mother, Howard and Alice Gilliam; daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte Enise Gilliam and Curtis Talson; daughter, Christie Denise Gilliam; sister and brother-in-law, Diana Enise and Joe Harrington; granddaughter, Charlotte Rae “Charly” Talson; grandsons, Kody and Kyle Talson; stepdaughters, Jessica (Manuel) Moreno and Morgan (Ian) Caceres; stepson, John Charles Marshall; step-grandsons, Jaxon Thomas Moreno and Elijah John Caceres; brother-in-law, Roy Hart, many other relatives and close friends.

Visitation will be at Cage-Mills Funeral Home, 4901 Everhart Rd. on Sunday, May 19, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitation will resume on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1515 N. Live Oak, Rockport, Texas at 11:00 am with Funeral Service to be held at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Rockport Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children – Houston, Peace Officer’s Memorial Foundation or First Baptist Church Rockport.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” Matthew 5:9

Condolences may be offered at cage-millsfuneraldirectors.com