Sue Alice Klapman Gillis

Sue Alice Klapman Gillis passed away peacefully at home on November 25, 2018. Her funeral service will be held this Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church on B Avenue in West Columbia. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday at Thompsons Funeral Home in Lexington. Sue was born on April 14, 1947 in Columbia, SC to George W. and Maxine D. Klapman. She was a lifelong member of Mt. Tabor Lutheran Church and an active member of the Ladies Aid. She graduated from the University of South Carolina and taught for 20 years, first at Frances Mack Elementary and later at Sandhills Elementary in Lexington School District 4. She was an incredible mentor to beginning teachers and student teachers and could remember the name of every student she ever taught. She never forgot a student. After retirement she enjoyed traveling and gardening and serving as a leader for her senior exercise class at the West Columbia leisure center. She was married for 50 years to Kent Gillis. Surviving in addition to her husband are her sons Andy Gillis (Mandy) and Aaron Gillis (Jennifer); grandchildren, Samantha, Jacob, Tyler and Matthew. She is also survived by one brother (David Klapman) and two sisters (Amy Shull and Lynn Arrington) and numerous nieces and nephews.