The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-09
GHLESPY, a, B DIES THURSDAY; WAS LILA YEARS Was Deeply Interested In Political And Religious
 Subjects s FUNERAL SERVICES SATURDAY MORNING Lifelong Member And Steward In Method
 ist Church

LIT. John sharp GllleSpy, O4 years old, lifelong resident and one of the oldest physicians of the Birmingham district, died at 3 :23 o'clock Thursday afternoon at his residence. 2006 High land avenue. following an illness of over four years.
 For number of years Dr. Gillespy had been suffering with disease which had kept him in his rolling chair. He had been confined to his bed for the last two weeks or ten days.
 Dr. Gillespy has always been q lover of the great out-of-doors and was en- thusiastic over all kinds of sports. Dur ing the last days of his life football and baseball played a great part in his routine, and it was no uncommon sight to see his wheel chair at the diff ferent athletic events.
 Deeply Religious
 Always showing great interest in, public good. he was close follower of politics. He was a deeply religious man and had been q steward in the Methodist church since early manhood.
 Had he lived to November IT, Dr. Gillespy would have been B5 years old. He was born November 17, 1859, at old Jonesboro, where Bessemer now stands, the son of John sharp Gil lespy and Martha McAdery.
 He received his early education in Birmingham at Professor McAdory's famous school. Later he attended the University of Alabama. In 1879 he graduated from the Miami Medical col lege at Cincinnati and returned to Bir- mingham to practice medicine.
 In this capacity he served the city of Birmingham for practically 25 years. He served both as county and city phyeirian and at one time was employ es aA eompAng physician for the Sloss- ehsffieid Steel and Ieon company DemocratIc Chairman He gave up the practice of medicine in 1900 to take a position as chief clerk and register for the city of Birming- ham and held this position until 1912 when he retired to private life. His interest in politics, however, never dulled and he was elected chairman of the Jefferson county democratic exec utive committee,
 Dr. Giilespy was a lifelong member of the Methodist church and upon his return home in 1879 was immediately appointed steward of the Jonesb0ro Methodist church. Later he served as steward of the First Methodist church of Birmingham. He was founder and charter member of the Five Points Methodist church and at the time of his death was still serving in the ca pacity of steward. M
 On October 10, 1883, Dr. Gillespy married Miss Eugenia Owen. daughter of the late Mir. and Mrs. Thomas NJ. Owen, who were also pioneers of Jef- ferson county.
 He is survived by his widow; two daughters, Mrs Felton Wimbley and Mrs. David Roberts, Jr.; five sons, Owen Gillespy, James NJ. Gillespy, pr. John. Sharp Gillespy, Jr., and Clark Gillespy of Birmingham and Dr. Rob ert Rose GfIlespy of New Orleans 10 grandchildren and number of other relatives.
 Funeral Saturday
 Funeral services will be held at Il o'clock Saturday morning from the res idence, 2006 Highland avenue, with Dr. w. R. Hendrix, Dr. James Nor ris and Dr. J. A, Bryan officiating, Burial will follow in Elmwood cemetery with Lige Loy in charge.
 Dr. Gillespy's five sons. two sons in-law, Felton Wimbley and David Rob erts, Jr., and two grandsons, Felton Wimhley, Jr., and Owen Gillespy, Jr, will serve as pallbearers, Honorary pallbearers are as follows; E. J. Smyer, R. B. Smyer. B. B. Conner, A. J. smith, Major D. M. Tutwiler, l.. B. Shelton, J. l.. Yancey, Ned R. McDavid, ". N. Malone, Governor William D. Jelks, ID. H. Cabiness, Lonnie Munger. Col lin Campbell, T. H. Motion, George Eustis, Dr. Felix I. Tarrant, Dr. J. D. Heacock, Dr. W. M. Jordon, Dr.. D. M. Mason, Dr. B. s. Lester and Dr. C1Aude ID Zuher