Diana Gillyard
February 12, 1943 - August 24, 2023
Mrs. Diana R. Gillyard was born on February 12, 1943 to Armando and Adorocion (Cora) Gomez Ruiz at S.S. Gonzalez Clinic in Ybor City neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. She is the middle child of this union. As a child, she attended Orange Grove Elementary School up to 6th grade. Thereafter, she attended George Washington Jr. High School to the 9th grade. Thereafter, she attended Thomas Jefferson High School. Later, she decided to instead attend cosmetology school to become a hair stylist and cosmetologist.
She worked at that occupation for several years, but later became allergic to the chemicals used to treat hair in her profession. Shen then met her first husband, Orlando R. Collado (Coco). Shortly thereafter being together, they had three children, Inez, Luis, and Alisha (Less) Collado. During this time, Diana was a stay at home mother in Miami, Florida and later moved back home to Tampa, Florida.
Diana worked at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Tampa, Florida for many years as a counselor and sewing teacher. She was a great mentor and guided many children to make good and wise choices during their young, formative years. She did all of this while attending Urban League College to later graduate with a degree as a licensed electrician.
Years later, she remarried and separated from her second husband, while raising her children. She later worked and retired from the family owned business, Nana’s Cantina of Tampa, Florida. Years later, she relocated to Nashville, Arkansas where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Alisha and Otis Neal. On August 24, 2023, God called her Home to her final resting place.
Diana is preceded in death by her parent, Armando and Adorocion (Cora) Gomez Ruiz, and three grand children, Jeremy, Justin Rodriguez, William Collado, William L. Neal, and one great grandchild, J. Wilson.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughters, Alisha H. Neal (Otis Don Neal, Jr.), Inez Bartolomey Collado (Ann), three sons, Luis Orlando Collado, Lazaro A. Neal , Otis L. Neal, one brother, Armonda Ruiz, Jr. (Dean), one sister, Alice Cord (Jonos Cord) and 22 grand children, Anthony Collado, Mattheas Serret, Dempsey W. Collado, Otis L. Neal, Devonte’ I. Neal, Javon Davis, Otis Don Neal III, Elisa Wilson, Denaha Shepard, Isabella Neal, and 17 great grand children, one great great grand child, and one nephew, Jason Cord. Also, one special cousin and aid, Wanda Faye O'Neal, that worked for her for 6 years and a host of other cousins, family members and friends.
Funeral Service
Saturday, September 9, 2023
11:00 AM
Maranatha Baptist Church
300 Trenton Blvd, Nashville, AR 71852