Cynthia Byrd Gilliam

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts…”

Cynthia made her entrance on August 2, 1939, as the second child born to Elizabeth Eugenia McElveen Gilliam and Claude Gibbs Gilliam in Whitmire, SC.

The family moved to Columbia, and Cynthia was cast in her first role in her third-grade health play at McMaster School: a set of teeth. She was smitten. She began her theatrical studies at the age of 12 under the mindful eye of Mary Lou Kramer, grande dame of Columbia theatre. She honed her skills acting under the “inspired and ruthless direction of Mrs. Kramer” with the Children’s Theatre at Town Theater and was considered an experienced actor by the age of 16.

She immersed herself in everything theatre, backstage and onstage, even assisting Christian Thee in magic and mind-reading acts. Her prowess as an actor was once summed up by Adger Brown in a review of Workshop’s 1967 production of Dylan, in which Cynthia played Caitlyn Thomas, “It has long been this reviewer’s hope to see Cynthia Gilliam perform badly – a hope born not of malice, but only because it is disconcerting to encounter a performer who no matter what the role, never falters, never misses a theatrical trick, who knows exactly what she is doing – and who does it brilliantly. This is another personal triumph for Miss Gilliam.”

A graduate of Dreher High School, she attended the University of South Carolina, where she was Vice-President of the Alpha Psi Omega honorary dramatic fraternity and President of University Players. She acted on Town, Workshop, and Trustus Theatres’ stages in Columbia and Hilltop Summer Theater in Lutherville, MD. She was known for her performances as Annie Sullivan in The Miracle Worker, Masago, the wife in Rashomon, Jean Brodie in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Martha in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Joan in Saint Joan to name but a few. A masterful actor, as the Geni in Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, during the flash of light and mushroom cloud of smoke from which she made her first entrance, her costume caught fire because of too much flash powder, she remained calm and in character until she finished the scene and was whisked offstage.

Always observing interaction with the world, Cynthia acted to show you what life is and lived to show you what acting is. Living was acting, and acting was living.

In a 1959 interview, she said her secret ambition was “To direct plays.” And direct she did. First for the Laurel Hill Supper Club, then Workshop, Chapin, and Trustus Theatres, and the SC Shakespeare Company; her legendary productions are too numerous to mention and too memorable to forget. “The first time you meet Cynthia Gilliam, you will never wonder what she is really like. Straightforward, personable, dignified, casual, she is an actress and director extraordinaire.” Dylan 1967 program. Just ask her dogs, whom she directed to go to their “places.”

Cynthia’s creativity and originality carried into her work life as traffic manager at WOIC Radio Station straight out of college. She became public affairs director and supervisor of traffic in three states for all six stations of Speidel Broadcasters, Inc.

In November 1971, she, Mary Arnold Garvin, Eleanor Pettit, and Barbara Ott founded Semaphore, Inc., a marketing and advertising agency with multiple award-winning campaigns for Rackes, Brittons, SC Electric Coops, Historic Columbia, Richtex Brick, Griff’s, Weathers, SC State, Benedict, Jack Nicklaus Eyewear, and The American European Express. Cynthia was president and creative director until the business closed in December 2012, when she retired. Her guiding principle was to be concise, compelling, and cogent.

Cynthia was a leader. In addition to serving on the boards of many charitable and civic organizations, she was a founding member of the Women’s Studies Business Board at USC, Workshop Theatre, Columbia Urban League, and Columbia City Ballet with Ann Brodie and Jimmy and Naomi Calvert, and was a member of the American Women in Television.

Cynthia taught acting at Central Correctional Institution (CCI) and adult acting for two decades at Workshop Theatre, was a guest lecturer at Benedict College, and an adjunct professor in journalism at USC.

A woman of high integrity and devotion, Cynthia was active in the Civil Rights Movement. She was passionate about teaching people how to read and sign their names so they could register to vote. An oral interview with her is available at https://digital.library.sc.edu/exhibits/scoralhistory/interviews/cynthia-gilliam/

Cynthia was a loving wife and mother who found great joy in her family and delighted in spending time at Edisto and Folly beaches with them. Cynthia was also a caring friend. Even as her disease progressed, in those moments when you didn’t expect clarity, she’d ask, “How are you doing?”

She loved animals and spent hours watching her dogs romping in the backyard sunlight. Cynthia could be seen sitting on the front porch with the neighborhood cats while they ate so they didn’t have to eat alone. She imbued her animals with a personality.

Fresh flowers, home-grown garden vegetables, bookcases full of books, ornate rugs and furnishings, and original art filled the house. Cynthia was a lover of words and all things beautiful.

Cynthia died November 20, 2024, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She was predeceased in death by her parents and brother, Claude Gibbs Gilliam, Jr.

Cynthia is survived by her wife, Rebecca Gilliam Wrenn, daughter, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Gilliam Wrenn (Alex Cohen), and her fur babies, Ella Fitzgerald and Vida Loca

Also surviving are her sisters-in-law: Skeet (Skip) Godow and son Sean (Brandy) Sullivan, daughter Sahm Sullivan and grandsons Liam Sullivan and Seamus Morton; Bobbie (Robert) Dozier and son Jimmy Wrenn, daughter Lee Dozier and grandchildren Mallie, David, and Douglas Dozier; Candy Sapp and son Michael (Kirstan) Sapp, daughter Amy (Dalton) Bly and grandchildren Jackson and Addy Bly. As well as many members of her theatre family.

A member of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Cynthia’s service will be held at 2 pm on Monday, December 2, 2024 with a reception immediately following in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her memory to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund at St. Martin’s, 5220 Clemson Avenue, Columbia, SC 29206.

“Dynamic. Versatile. An actress who communicates with her audience. A director who draws from an actor the essence of a character. She is a talent named Cynthia Gilliam.”

We will miss you, Cynthia. You were a true force of nature.

South Carolina Cremation Society is assisting the family. Family and friends may sign the online guest book by clicking on the “Tribute Wall” tab above.