Viola Fern Gilstrap

Viola Martin Gilstrap

August 25, 1936 - November 16, 2021

Viola Martin Gilstrap, 85, of Hanahan, SC entered into eternal rest Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Her Funeral Service will be held Monday, November 22, 2021 at Trident Baptist Church, 100 Montague Plantation Rd., Goose Creek, SC, 29445 at 12:00 pm. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Northwoods Chapel.

Viola was born and raised in northern Michigan. She was a graduate of Harbor Springs High School, and worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company for 31 years.
A member of Trident Baptist Church for over 30 years, she sang in the choir and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She was married for 63 years to the late James W. Gilstrap, and is survived by three sons, Glenn, Steven, & Christopher, three grandchildren, Travis, Tyler, & Cole, one sister, Shirley Matsunaga, and one brother, Paul Martin.

Preceding her in death were her father Levi Martin, mother Sylvia Tyson Martin, sister Sharon, brother John, son James, and her husband James W. Gilstrap.

Viola had a loving kindness that was uniquely rare and unlimited, but above all, genuine to all she came in contact with. Whether sewing clothes for the children at her church, helping some less fortunate family she didn't even know down the street with food or toys for their children, or any number of the random acts of kindness witnessed by those who knew her best, she did so with the sweetest smile and most sincere & loving intentions. She was truly an original, an inspiration, and our lives and hearts will forever be hollowed without her.