Obituary – Reta Herndon Gillis Frisancho

Reta Herndon Gillis Frisancho

LIZELLA, GA – Reta Herndon Gillis Frisancho finished her Earthly journey on June 30, 2024 at age 85.

Reta was born Nov. 5, 1938 in Calhoun County, FL to Marie and Ira Herndon. Her childhood was spent between Florida and Georgia. Reta was a graduate of Treutlen High School. She went on to accounting school and income-tax preparation school, and she became a licensed nail technician and an apprentice beautician.

Reta loved God and her family. She loved ancient Bible history, always studying everything she could find on that subject. She became an accomplished cook of home-style Southern food, including butterbeans, black-eyed peas, collard greens and flat cakes of cornbread. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas, her grandchildren clamored for a big pot of her green beans.

Reta was preceded in death by her parents, Ira and Marie (Williford) Herndon; her sister, Iris Gray; and her half-brother, Terrence Herndon. She was previously married to Clarence “Jack” Gillis, also departed.

She is survived by her husband Sandro Frisancho of Covington, Ga.; by two sons from her first marriage, Justin H. Gillis of London, England and Jason D. Gillis (Jody) of Buford, GA.; by three brothers, Harvey Herndon (Geneva), Elmer Herndon (Grace), and Ernie Herndon, all of Soperton, GA.; and by one sister, Dale White of Lizella, GA.  Her survivors include six grandchildren: Elizabeth Clelland (Hayden), Alexis Gillis, Jason Gillis Jr., Ashlee Forrester, Avonlea Elford and Avery Elford. Ashlee and husband Taylor Forrester gave her two great-grandchildren, Charlie and Millie, whom she cherished, as she did her many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 at the Zaidee Advent Christian Church, Soperton, GA where her faith journey began and her heart always remained, with the Rev. John Herndon officiating. Family will greet friends at the church prior to the service, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Sammons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.