When the time comes to bid this life farewell, we should find comfort in knowing that a loving God will be there with us to guide us to our new home.

Click here to view funeral program for Johnny Gilmore.

On the 30th day of March, 1943, across from the railroad tracks, in one of six bedrooms of his maternal grandmother, Carrie Belle Harris' two-story home in Ethel Hollow, Johnny Delaney Gilmore was welcomed into the world by James Andrew and Flossie Mae Gilmore of Ethel, West Virginia. Named after his maternal uncle, Johnny was the third child and son of the couple's eight children, and was lovingly raised by his grandmother, whom he affectionately called "Mama." As a boy, he was known to spend his time skipping rocks in the local creek, playing marbles and checkers, and competing in various sports with local kids and his family, especially at weekly Sunday get-together.

At a young age, Johnny was baptized in the creek behind his family church, Shady Grove Baptist, by Reverend J.B. Eaton in Ethel, WV. He attended the local segregated schools of Ethel including Aracoma High School. Upon the integration of the West Virginia schools, he attended and graduated from Logan High School in Logan, WV, where he and his teammate Ray Henderson, were the only two black athletes on the school's football team. As a teen, Johnny proved himself to be a phenomenally talented athlete excelling and setting records in football, basketball, baseball and track and field, some of which remain until this day. His great running speed and ability was recognized during his early high school years and his lean muscular frame coined him the nickname of Johnny " The Jaguar" Gilmore . His athletic patches were so numerous, he ran out of space to sew all of them on his letter-man jacket.

In 1962, Johnny graduated from Logan High and in the fall, enrolled at the Historically Black College, West Virginia State College (WVSC) in Institute, WV pursuing a degree in Secondary Education and continuing his outstanding performance in football and track. On November 20, during the fall football season of his freshman year, fate struck in the campus library, when this popular running back met the love of his life, a cutie named Gloria Maxine Johnson, double majoring in Sociology and Psychology, hailing from Gordonsville, VA…who just also happened to be celebrating her 17th birthday on this very day. While at State, Johnny participated in track and field, placing first in the 100 yard dash in 9.8
seconds and 220 yard dash in 22.4 seconds. He was an esteemed member of the winning 440 and 880relay teams and set the school record for broad jump at 22'4". In football, he brought a new hope of victory and change for a team with a history of losing. His notable accomplishments during his first year of college football earned him a place on the second team of the All-West Virginia Interscholastic
Athletic Club (WVIAC) Football team in 1962. In 1963, he and his teammates, reversed a 17-game losing streak with a phenomenal 12-6 win over rival Glenville College. That year, he had 45 carries for 168 yards, caught 23 passes, returned 7 punts for 83 yards and 13 kickoffs for 455 yards. Counting the passes he snatched for the year, he had 558 yards in total offense. For these impressive statistics, he was named to the offensive first team of the All-WVIAC football squad. Regrettably, Johnny had to leave WVSC during his 1964-65 school year due to severe asthma and a collapsed lung. Johnny's leave was a great loss as he was the focus of major attention from athletic organizations and teams like the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. In later years, his athletic dominance during his school years was recognized and he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame for West Virginia State in 1996 and Logan High School in 2000.

After leaving college, Johnny moved to Michigan where he lived with his eldest brother Robert "Bobby" and his wife and their two lively little girls, Angie and Lisa, who were the first to ever call him uncle. It was in Michigan that he gained employment with the General Motors  Corporation.

On June 3, 1967, after five years of courtship, Gloria and Johnny married in Virginia. Strategically planning for their future family, the newlyweds saved and bought a home on a double lot with a hugeyard, backyard oak tree, rock wall and a hill, right next to the neighborhood park in The Knolls subdivision on the north side of Pontiac, Michigan. Maintaining their roots in the church, they joined Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, worked, and began expanding their family. At the home that consistently received the city's yard beautification award, the couple welcomed and raised four children: Johnny "Jode" Delaney Jr in 1970, their calm- spirited music-lover; James Walter in 1976, mischievous and basketball obsessed; Gloria Joyi in 1977, the kind-hearted, loud and off-key singer; and in 1983, Gloria learned she did not have the flu, but instead was pregnant with the couple's "oops" baby, Giara Johan, a strong willed and thoughtful creative. Although no longer a spring chicken, Johnny continued to display his athletic superiority and won championships in leagues for those of a mature age including with the Police Department, Coleman Furniture, the Michigan State Team, the Pontiac Motors League and the Pontiac Giants, a Semi-Pro Baseball League. He was also a competitive bowler. It was the norm to find the Gilmore family at Fiero Lanes in Auburn Hills, MI on weekends.

In 1997, after 30 years in production and management, Johnny retired and he, Gloria and their youngest daughter Giara returned to Gloria's childhood home in Gordonsville, VA; a 10-acre plot of land that in 2026 will have been owned by the Johnson family for an impressive 100 years. After the move, they became active members of Gloria's family church, Zion Hill Baptist in Keswick, VA and he took up new hobbies such as fishing while continuing his already established practice of maintaining their family property. It was Gloria's running joke that he was having an affair with Mrs. Leaves and Mrs. Grass due to the amount of time he spent in the yard "cutting dirt" and corralling fallen leaves. Like he did in Michigan, Johnny took the aesthetics of his home very seriously and diligently worked to ensure his property looked like it could be featured at any moment in the most upscale of magazines.

All who knew Johnny , knew he was a simple man of principle. While he could afford lobster, he preferred fried chicken legs, green beans and potatoes, a salad with Italian dressing and a slice of sandwich bread. His morals were unwavering - right was right and wrong was wrong – every day of the week. He was loyal–he worked for GM and GM did well by him and his family, so he would only buy GM vehicles. His sense of principle was always apparent while raising his children. He did not allow his children to say the word "lie"–that was a cuss word, according to him –but he was persistently insistent that we had better always tell "the" truth, not "a" truth. "Your word is your bond; without it you are not a respectable person."

All of his life, he was a formidable protector who loved his family. "Family above everything" was a heartfelt philosophy, a deeply en-grained belief learned from his father, passed on to his siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. and taught to his own children. "Don't you let nobody mess with your family; if you do, you'll have a problem with me," was his doctrine. "If your pants have belt loops, wear a belt, if they don't, you better use the drawstring, or they better have elastic…no one wants to see your behind. Look like someone cares for you or you care for yourself–no wrinkles in your clothes. Respect is earned, not given, don't disrespect people and don't let anyone disrespect you. Always protect your Mom–everything revolves around her. Take pride in your home, it doesn't have to be the biggest or the fanciest, but it is yours, act like it." To the men who would date his daughters he would warn–"Keep your hands to yourself or I will break both your arms and your legs." These were just a few of the things he preached.

As the years moved on and he earned the title of "Poppi" when his grandchildren came along, he and Gloria would dedicate their entire summers to keeping and spending time with their grandchildren. The rule was, as long as the child was potty-trained, "Gammi" and "Poppi" would keep them and fill their days with fancy tea parties, catching fireflies, teaching them life lessons like budgeting, picking up sticks in the yard, going to the local pool and taking his grandson to do "man stuff" like going to the dump and barber's shop. Johnny loved sweets… all the grand kids would love to visit Poppi or knew when Poppi came to visit, he would have snacks. He traveled with an impressive 16"x16" box, full of his favorites: Hostess cupcakes, Honey buns, oatmeal cream pies, bubble gum, miniature Patty pies, donuts, Grandpa John's skins (only the yellow bag), Reese's cups and mini blueberry muffins! You could bet anywhere he was, if there was a freezer, when you opened it, you'd be sure to find ice cream sandwiches and sugar-free Klondike bars.

He had an unmatched love of music, fashion, dancing and family that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. His favorite artist was James Brown, but he also loved musicians like Betty Wright (his wife was not a fan), Johnnie Taylor and Luther Vandross. His love of music even extended to rap and Spanish musicians like Los Lonely Boys. If a hustle was being played by the DJ, you would find him on the dance floor knowing every step. When you saw him, a pair of his signature aviator lenses were guaranteed to be on his face and he'd be dressed one of three ways: in a blue jean cap, blue jean button-up shirt and matching blue jeans starched so sharp they could cut paper, or if he just felt like
switching it up a bit, he would wear one of his many black and gold West Virginia State hats and shirts. Last, but surely not least, you would find Johnny dressed to the nines, tens, and elevens. He had a running list of what suits he wore and when he wore them to ensure he did not wear the same outfit too often. He and Gloria made a striking couple whenever they dressed up and stepped out.

Many people thought Johnny to be serious, quiet, or even intimidating as he did not smile a lot, but the man we knew as our Daddy and Poppi loved a good laugh, especially from a dirty joke, and was the most ticklish person ever--laughing so hard his shoulders would be up by his ears. Quite simply, he was a one-of-a-kind type of spirit, a man of deep love, integrity and character. As his children, we knew he loved us and our Mom. He never missed an opportunity to tell us and show us. He constantly praised his grandchildren telling them they could do anything they put their minds to. He would drive 10+ hours to attend their dance performance at church or their hour-long sports event. He would share with his granddaughters how to be ladies, encouraged them to always stand up for themselves and not to pick bums for boyfriends. His daughters, granddaughters and nieces learned how to make ponytails and braid by practicing on Daddy's hair – he felt no less of man to have a head full of barrettes, hair balls and bows, at the end of our practice sessions. He would have "man-to-man" talks with his grandsons about
expectations of manhood, their behavior, how they should treat their parents, and certainly never failed to give sports advice and demonstrations. It brought him great pride to know his athletic genes passed on to his kids and grand kids-who all played sports. His chest stuck out a little farther when his grandson Elijah, also a running back, chose to wear #20, Daddy's college number, to play tackle football for the 904 Chargers, for the past nine seasons and counting.

Our Dad was a family man and a devoted friend. He had regularly scheduled calls to his siblings, old and new friends and the widows of friends he'd lost along the years, just to make sure they were okay. He talked on the phone to his children every day. Sometimes twice or three times a day. Although his youngest is over 40 years old and has been married for 15+ years, when it was daylight savings time, he would call her when she got off work and talked with her until she made it to her car and got into it safely. You could hear our Mom in the background telling him not to call so much but we didn't mind, all loved it and now miss it like crazy. Daddy had a thing, when he hung up the phone, he never said
"goodbye", instead he would just say "later."

In January 2025, his life partner Gloria entered Hospice care. Amid his own medical struggles, Johnny took care of her until February 14, 2025, the day she went home to be with her Lord. Just four months shy of their 58th wedding anniversary, Johnny bid farewell to his forever love. After seven months apart and succumbing to a broken heart, he and Gloria were reunited in the loving arms of the Lord on September 20, 2025. In addition to his wife, parents and grandparents, Johnny was preceded in death by his first-born and namesake, Johnny D. Gilmore Jr. "Jode"; as well as siblings: James Jr., Gloria Anne, Robert and Harrison. He leaves a legacy of love to his children: James Gilmore Sr. of Clinton Township, MI, Gloria Joyi Henry of Margate, FL and Giara (Lateef) Warnick of Green Cove Springs, FL; seven grandchildren: James Jr., Ciara and Jayon Gilmore, Arianna and Talaya Henry, and Soraya and Elijah Warnick; sisters: Linda (Jesse) Walker and Shirley Jean (Cliff) Dixon; brother: Richard Gilmore; in laws: Dorothy Ellis, Frances Nicholas Gilmore and Martha Bowler Johnson; and a of host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Special thanks to our beloved Auntie Pinky and our Mom's dear faithful friend Robin Patton (Danny) for walking with us every step of the way during our parents' illnesses and passing. We love and appreciate you.

Our Dad will be fiercely missed, but we find some comfort in knowing he, our Mom and our brother are together and blissfully content. So until we meet again, later.

Written With Love, Appreciation, and Admiration, Lil Max (Giara), Long Head (Joyi), and Head (James)

To the Gilmore family, we at D. D. Watson offer our most sincere sympathy and condolences. Our prayer continues to be that your abiding faith in God will lend to you a measure of comfort that will strengthen and sustain you during your time of sorrow.

It is during such times as these that we draw upon our faith, stand upon our scriptures, and rely upon our God. There is no question that in this and through this, God will keep you, comfort you, and sustain you. You and your family are forever in our prayers.