Gail Veal Mccullough

On Wednesday, December 30, 2020, Mrs. Gail Veal McCullough slipped from her earthly home into the arms of her Lord and Saviour in Heaven where she was reunited with so many loved ones who had gone before. While her absence will leave a hole for so many here, it is a certainty that the rejoicing must have been great there. She was 83 years old.

The beautiful life of “Miss Gail”, as she was known to most, began on November 27, 1937, in Tenille, Georgia. The daughter of the late William R. and Sara Smith Veal, she lived most of her childhood in Oconee, Georgia, and then later moved to Cordele in her teenage years. It was in Cordele where she began to recognize her love for music and talent for singing. Gail successfully used these talents in high school choral competitions which eventually led to a music scholarship to Young Harris College. While an Education Major at Young Harris, Gail was an active part of the Young Harris Choir, President of the Susan B. Anthony Sorority, and a member of the women’s volleyball and softball teams. After college, she began work in Macon where she attended Mabel White Memorial Baptist Church and was an active member and soloist in the choir. While living in Macon, she was introduced to a handsome young employee who worked at Horton-Ivy Funeral home; his name was Jimmy McCullough and the two were wed later in 1961. It was not long after they married that Gail and Jimmy moved to Warner Robins to work at Watson-Wainwright Funeral Home. In time, they would see the business become their own, and the name would change to McCullough Funeral Home. Together they operated the business until Jimmy’s passing in 1997, but Gail remained an integral part of the McCullough Funeral Home family and was beloved by the staff until her passing.

When Gail and Jimmy started their life in Warner Robins, they became members of Second Baptist Church where, once again, Gail used her gift of singing in the choir. As her family grew with three daughters, they moved for a time to Green Acres Baptist church where she sang in the choir, led Sunday school classes and youth group functions. Later, after Jimmy’s passing, she returned to Second Baptist where she was still a member. Along with a life of service to her church and her family, Gail was also a member of the Pilot Club and the Women of Flint organization.

When asked what was most important to her in life, Gail resolutely stated, “The Lord. We are nothing without Him in our lives. He is our source of joy, peace, comfort and assurance.” Gail had a true servant’s heart and was known for her kindness, quintessential southern charm and an unfailing wit. She loved to laugh and loved the sound of laughter from those around her. Her presence on this earth will be greatly missed but her legacy of love, laughter, and most importantly, faith, will continue to live on for generations.
In addition to her parents, Gail was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, James Miller McCullough, Jr., and her brother, William R. Veal, Jr.

Left to cherish unending memories and carry on Gail’s legacy are her children, Cindy M. Gentry (Mark) of Savannah; Cathy M. Giddens (Scott) of Douglasville; and Kelly M. McMullin (Kyle) of Chicago; grandchildren, Lindsey Hilton (John), LTJG Jonathan Gentry, US Navy (Rachel), Megan, Madison, Zach, and Nathaniel Giddens, Ethan, Erin, Abby, and Audrey McMullin; great-grandchildren, Addison Hilton and James Gentry; as well as many beloved extended family members and loving friends.

With social distancing and the safety of friends and family in mind, a funeral service celebrating the life of Gail McCullough will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 3, 2021, at Second Baptist Church with Reverend Mark Gentry and Reverend Mike Slade officiating. Mrs. McCullough will lie in repose in the church sanctuary for one hour prior to the service. Following the service, Mrs. McCullough will be laid to rest next to her late husband in Magnolia Park Cemetery. The interment will be private.

For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

The family will accept flowers or donations may be given in memory of Gail V. McCullough to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Learn about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.

Video Tribute

Gail Veal McCullough Tribute Video from McCullough Funeral Home on Vimeo.