Nola Sue Wright Gillies Jenkins, 89, of Denver, NC has gone to eternal rest with her Lord and Savior. She passed peacefully on Friday, March 28, 2025 following a three year battle with cancer. She wishes to thank all who prayed for her, cared for her during her illness, and who provided comfort in her last days.

Nola Sue was born Feb 10, 1936 in Leesville, LA to Nolan Dees Wright and Edna Gertrude Antony Wright. She grew up in Leesville and remained close friends with many childhood friends that she treasured. All of you Wampus Cats Class of 1954 know who you are! She attended Leesville High school and was an honor roll student. She participated in many student activities.

Nola Sue was in band 4yrs and was a Treasurer and a Vice President of the Band, Cheerleader 2yrs, Softball 2yrs, Business Manager of the Yearbook, Paper Staff 2 yrs, Holly Ball Princess 3 yrs, Yearbook beauty, Homecoming Maid, Louisiana Pelican Girl’s State, Candidate for Festival Queen, and Jr Class Secretary.

She also was a member of the Senior Hall of Fame. Additional activities included the Drama club, Library club, Literary Club, Press Club, and Shorthand Club.

After graduation in May 1954, Nola Sue attended Spencer Business school in Shreveport, LA where she met her husband Robert “Bob” Gillies who was in the Air Force and stationed close by at Barksdale AFB.

They married July 3, 1955 at First Baptist Church in Leesville, LA and she immediately moved to Bob’s home town of N. Reading, MA. After a move to Reading and the birth of daughter Gail, they moved to Wilmington into a home Bob built, and where daughter Gigi arrived.

After moving to MA, Nola Sue became known as Sue. She worked for Dutchmaid Clothing Distributors out of Ephrata, PA., a home party based business similar to Tupperware. Sue was a very successful sales person and was in the Top Five Sales of New England for five years.
In Aug 1966, the family made a move to FL when Bob transferred from New England Tel to Southern Bell Telephone and they made Winter Park their home. Third daughter Sandy arrived there.

Sue worked for American Greeting Cards as a distributor for 11 yrs and then was employed by JCPenny as a Merchandise Assistant at Winter Park Mall until it closed, transferring to the Altamonte Mall. In 1993 Bob retired and they moved to Lady Lake, FL. Sue then transferred to the Leesburg Mall JCPenny store where she worked another 8 yrs before retiring.

Sue was raised as a Baptist and of Christian Faith, and was a member of Lady Lake Baptist Church prior to her illness. She love her church family there. She loved the activities there, and in her Lady Lake retirement community.

She loved family time and holidays with visits from her daughters, grandsons, and great grandkids, and enjoyed any activities they were involved in. Sue especially enjoyed being a Lake Howell High School Band Parent for three years with Gigi and four years with Sandy and the friendships she made with other band parents, and the travels to competitions and to Europe.

Sue loved to play cards, loved music, a good book, travels, and the family genealogy finds that Gail discovered. And she loved all the trips that Gail put together. She always looked forward to her trips back to Leesville, LA as well, to her high school reunions when she could attend. She enjoyed seeing childhood friends again, those whom she adored and loved to pieces.

Bob passed in 2004 and Sue remarried in 2006. She was widowed again in 2012. That same year she decided to move to Deland, FL to Woodland Towers where she remained until her illness in 2022. The illness caused a move to her daughter Sandy’s home in NC.
Sue is preceded in death by both of her parents, Nolan Wright 1978, Edna Wright 1990, her husband Robert E. Gillies 2004, daughter Gigi Gillies-Donahue 2024, and many other beloved family members and friends.

Sue is survived by her daughters: Gail Walsh (Keith) of Toledo, OH, Sandy Kopp-Gillies (Holly) of Denver, NC, Son-in- law: Bobby Donahue of Altamonte Springs, FL, Grandsons: Ryan Pappas (Katie) of Deland, FL, Logan Donahue of Altamonte Springs, FL,
Great grandchildren: Brennen Pappas, Missoula, MT, Aislyn Pappas of Clinton, MT, their mom, Beth Vibbert of Clinton, MT, also Jaxon Pappas and Adelyn Pappas of Deland.

Sue’s favorite Bible verse is John 11:25-26
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Carolina Cremation 0s Charlotte, NC was entrusted for Sue’s final care. She will be laid-to-rest at FL National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL along-side Bob at a later date.

Please consider a donation in Sue’s name to your local Cancer Society or to the
Alzheimer’s Association www.alz.org

Condolences can be sent to
Gail and Keith Walsh                        Sandy and Holly Kopp-Gillies
1416 Harvard Blvd                                    3864 Angie Drive
Toledo, H 43614                                      Denver, NC 28037