"Tootsie" (Julia Rebekah) Culler Gillam

Born in 1923 in Orangeburg, Tootsie graduated from high school and attended Columbia College. In the mid-1940s she moved to Charleston where she met and married her husband. They resided and raised their family in Mt. Pleasant.

Tootsie always took pride in working and did so until the age of 96. She was Head Bookkeeper at Navy Relief Society at the Charleston Navy Yard until the base closed in 1996. Most recently she worked at the Coast Guard Exchange. She was an active member of the ABWA (American Business Women’s Association) and was named “Woman of the Year” in 1979 and 1986.

She is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Leon Gillam, son Leon Wesley (Jack) Gillam, brothers Sonny and Jack Culler and her son-in-law, Larry Mackey. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Mackey, her grandchildren Wesley Gillam, Lisa Mackey Preston, Robert Lawrence Mackey Jr. (Veronica) & Leslie Mackey Medlin (JB). She has eight great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the kind and loving staff at The Oaks of Charleston and Agape Hospice who provided nurturing care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society: www.nmcrs.org

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 2:00 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 3:00 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

The burial will take place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 4:00 pm at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens, 1308 Mathis Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.