1949-2008
Dr. John Hilliard Gilliam passed on February 2, 2008 at the age of 58, leaving a legacy of his entrepreneurial lifestyle.
Dr. John Hilliard Gilliam was born on June 24, 1949 in Bristol, VA. He was raised in Knoxville, TN and always had strong ties to that community. He earned his M.D. at the University of Tennessee in Memphis and completed his residency in psychiatry at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. He had a variety of professional roles including serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA. He established the first psychopharmacology laboratory. He was a honorary guest speaker, presenting at Columbia University and the American Psychiatric Association on the uses of SPECT in psychiatry. In addition, he served as Medical Director at Charter Westbrook Hospital, Richmond, VA for 10 years and functioned as the Principal Investigator for clinical research studies for over 30 years. He has an extensive psychiatric private practice, with his partner Padmini Atri, MD, while also focusing on research, as well as, sleep medicine.
He was a loving partner, a devoted father, and a wonderful physician. He will always be remembered fondly and will be missed by all who came to know him. He celebrated his life through travel, great food, and good wines. He found various pleasures in his life from tending to his orchids to helping people in need from all walks of life. He approached life with positive vision. He was an avid lover of art and owned several galleries throughout his life. He was known for openly voicing his opinions and conveying advice when it mattered most. He was an extraordinary problem solver, an incredible listener, and possessed remarkable insight.
He is survived by family and friends, Roy Hartsook, Caroline Gilliam, Jonathan Walker and Jenny Lee Gilliam, Padmini Atri, Walter and Anne Lambert, and Karin Gilliam. He was preceded in death by his mother, Virginia Gilliam, father, Louis “Gill” Gilliam, and brother, Franklin Gilliam.
He was a determined man, who always prided himself on hard work and diligence, while maintaining a passion for life. He will continue to provide insurmountable joy and inspiration to all of our lives.