SamiDail Brown Gilley

• SamiDail Brown Gilley, 37, of Charlotte Court House, peacefully passed away on October 4, 2015, after a long battle with cancer.  She was the daughter of Samuel H. Brown and the late Pamela K. Brown, who died on this same day nine years ago.  The family feels great comfort from knowing that her loving mother welcomed SamiDail into the Kingdom of Heaven.

SamiDail was a determined and driven person with a tremendous work ethic.  Growing up, her passions included playing softball and serving in the Future Farmers of America.  She was a Vice-President on the Virginia FFA officer team after graduation from Randolph-Henry High School and remembered the experience as “life-changing.”  She counted her fellow officers as life-long friends.  She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry and was a Hokie through and through.  She earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Auburn University, while working full-time at the family business founded by her father.  She was a fierce and strong woman.  She loved the mill, its employees, and the challenges of operating a family-owned business.

She married Erik Gilley in 2000 and was blessed with three beautiful children, whom she adored deeply.  She consistently taught, challenged, and invested in her children and took a particular interest in the needs of the community’s children by serving on the Charlotte County Social Services Board and the Charlotte County FFA Alumni Council.

She is survived by her husband Erik S. Gilley; her children, Easton, Addie, and Ellie Gilley; her father Samuel H. Brown and his wife, Wanda; a brother, Eric Brown (Janet); three sisters, Oscarlyn Elder (Todd), Susan McNair (Mark), and Rebecca Stevenson (Gregg); five nieces, Sarah Choops (Derek), Mary Freeh (Patrick), Katherine Gilley, Madeline Elder, and Layla Stevenson; two nephews, Samuel Brown (Kallie) and John Gilley; a cousin, who was like a niece, Gabrielle Jones (Steve); mother-in-law, Linda Gilley; and brother-in-law, Kevin Gilley (Debra); dear friends, Donna and Dale Tharpe; and extended family of numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family wishes to extend their appreciation to those who enabled Sami to live as normal life as possible during her multi-year illness.  SamiDail’s deep abiding Christian faith and intense focus on living sustained her and allowed her to live in a manner that would have exhausted most healthy individuals.  Dr. Dwight Oldham and the staff of Lynchburg Oncology were with her every step of the way; their professionalism and love for SamiDail will never be forgotten.

The family received family and friends at 497 Parsons Lane (Erik and SamiDail’s home) on Tuesday, October 6th from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.   A celebration of her life was held on Wednesday, October 7th at 2 p.m., at the family cemetery at 497 Parsons Rd., Charlotte Court House, VA.  Donations may be sent to the Patrick Henry Boys & Girls Home (P. O. Box 1398, Brookneal, VA 24528) or the Charlotte County FFA Alumni Council (P. O. Box 338, Charlotte Court House, VA 23923).   The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, Va. is in charge of arrangements.