Gwendolyn 'Gwen' Joan Gillespie

Gwendolyn Joan Gillespie, 73, left our earthly realm on Wednesday, August 21st, after a long fight with dementia. Gwen leaves behind a loving only daughter, Kimberly Keheley Frye and her two beloved grandsons Jake Frye of Statesboro, GA and Riley Frye of Portland, OR. She loved them more than the stars in the sky and water in the ocean. Gwen was born November 9, 1950, in Royston, GA to Joyce Harris Gillespie (Clifford) and William Tolbert Gillespie. She was the oldest of 5 siblings and moved to Marietta when her father got a job at Lockheed. Growing up on Rosewood Circle in Marietta, she had many lifelong friends and graduated from Sprayberry High School in 1968. She loved attending the monthly Sprayberry alumni breakfast meetings and helped to organize some reunions. Gwen attended Kennesaw Jr. college as young single mother. Gwen rose up through the ranks of real estate companies and found her niche in flavor and fragrance sales for the local company Arylessence. Gwen was a real estate broker for her own brokerage and often played gin rummy at the Marietta VFW. Gwen was always the sporty adventurer from sky diving, racing, mud dragging, bowling, softball, and scuba diving which stemmed from a lifelong love of the ocean. Gwen loved traveling to the beach, Europe and on Elvis cruises with her high school friends. Elvis was a favorite memory for her as her disease progressed. As a working mom, Gwen was not touted for her cooking skills, but she made a mean “pakecan” and delicious potato salad. Gwen was determined that her daughter, Kim, would get a college education. It was her proudest day when her “Bullpuppy” graduated from the University of Georgia and went on to graduate with her juris doctorate from Georgia State University. Her mother, Joyce, predeceased her and she became the matriarch of her brother and sisters’ families. It was important to Gwen to keep everyone together for holiday gatherings which she hosted at Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve for as long as she was able in her East Marietta home. She is predeceased by her brother Brian Keith Gillespie and survived by her siblings Billie (Danny) Taylor, Jackse Gillespie, and Gayle “Honey” Gillespie, 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and 5 grandnieces and grandnephews. Gwen was a vivacious and outgoing sister, friend, mother and Me-Maw to Jake and Riley. The ravages of dementia took her way earlier than we would have liked as she was truly loved. A warm and casual visitation of friends and family will be held Sunday, August 25, 2024 from 2-4pm Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home in Marietta, GA.

Gwendolyn 'Gwen' Joan Gillespie

November 9, 1950 - August 21, 2024