Herbert Coffman Gallian

Herbert Coffman Gallian, age 77, passed away Sunday, May 21, 2006 at Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro. He was born November 3, 1928, in the community of Five Points in Lawrence County, Tennessee, to James Arthur and Lillie Estella Coffman Gallian. Herbert attended school in Five Points as a child and graduated in 1948 from Loretto High School. While in high school, he played right tackle on the Mustang football team and was a member of the Future Farmers of America and the “L” Club.



Herbert came to Waynesboro to gain employment with General Shoe in 1949. At Genesco, in the fall of 1950, he met his future bride, Fay Jean Holt, who had also come there to work. He was a member of the Waynesboro church of Christ. Church work was very important to Herbert. He dedicated his life to service, having served as a deacon before being appointed an elder. He served the Waynesboro congregation as an elder for 33 years. The members will remember him being one of the first ones arriving at services, lots of times unlocking the building, and always anxious to be in the company of his Christian family. He will also be remembered for teaching and encouraging many to become Christians.



Herbert worked at General Shoe until 1967. During the last several years of his employment there, he was busy operating a construction company on the side. In 1962, he ventured into the world of building full time, constructing homes all over the area. He was also a land developer, opening the “hills” of Wayne County up to residential construction. During his years as a contractor, he built hundreds of homes in Wayne County and the neighboring counties. In 1978, he and his son, Mike, applied for a state contractor’s license, and G & G Construction Co. was born. This venture enabled them to branch out into commercial and industrial construction, as well as continuing the home construction that he loved so much. Up until his hospitalization on April 26, Herbert could be seen almost daily at the job sites, checking on the progress of the work. He made many friends with his associations from the various building projects over the years.



On May 11, 1951, Herbert married Fay Jean. Recently, they observed their 55th anniversary. Herbert is survived by his wife, Fay, and three children: Michael Holt Gallian and his wife Susan, Hope Lanette Davis all of Waynesboro, Tennessee and Melonie Jean Butler and her husband Jeff of Florence, Alabama; eight grandchildren: Mendy Lee Gallian of McMinnville, Tennessee, Benjamin Michael Gallian and his wife Tonya, William Herbert Gallian, Allyson Kristen, Mary Lauren, and Katherine Audrey Davis, all of Waynesboro, Tennessee and Katie Fay and Jesse Braden Butler of Florence, Alabama; one great-granddaughter – Michaela Renee Gallian of Waynesboro, Tennessee.` Herbert also has a very special niece, Helen Nash Williams, who was raised as a younger sister because of the untimely death of Herbert’s oldest sister, Laura.



He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers – Glynn, Grady, and Quentin Gallian and by three sisters – Laura Nash, Cornelia “Smudge” Williams, and Audra Brewer Logue. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.



In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Building Fund or the Preacher’s Training Fund of the Waynesboro Church of Christ, P.O. Box 33, Waynesboro, TN 38485.