Diana Gillyard

Mrs. Diana R. Gillyard was born on February 12, 1943 to Armando and Adoracion (Cora) Gomez Ruiz at A.A. 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 the 6th grade. Thereafter, she attended George Washington School from junior high school to the 9th grade. Thereafter, she attended Thomas Jefferson High School. She later quit to go to cosmetology school and become a hair stylist and a cosmetologist. She worked within that occupation for several years. She later became allergic to thechemicals used to treat hair in her profession. She then met her first husband (Ohanelo R Collodose), (Coco). Shortly after being together, they had three children, Inez, Luis, and Alisha (Less) Collado. During which Diana was a stay at home mother in Miami, Florida. She later moved back home to Tampa, Florida, where Diana worked at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Tampa, Florida for many years as a counselor and sewing teacher and was a great guide. She guided many children to make food and wise choices during their youth and formative years. She did this all while attending Urban League College an studying and graduated with a degree as a licensed electrician. Years later she remarried and separated from her second husband, all while raising her children. She later worked for the family owned business (Nana’s Cantina) of Tampa, Florida, where she retired from. Years later relocated to Nashville, Arkansas where she lived with her daughter and son in-law (Alisha and Otis Neal) until August, 24 2023 when God called her Home to her final resting place. Diana is preceded in death by her parents Armondo Se and Adoracion Ruiz and three grand children, Jeremy, Justin Rodriguez, William Collado, Willaim L. Neal, and one great grand child J. Wilson. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her daughters Alisha H. Neal (Otis Don Neal Jr.), Inez Bartolomey Collado (Ann), and one son Luis Orlando Collado. One brother Armondo Ruiz Jr. ( Dean), one sister Alice Cord (Jonas Cord), and 15 grandchildren, Anthony Collado, Matthew Serret, Dempsey W. Collado, Lazaro A. Nealy, Devonte’ I. Neal, Javon Davis, Otis Don Neal III, Otis L. Neal, Isaih E. Neal, Erika D, Neal, Barbara A. Davis, Elisa Wilson, Denaha Shepared, Isebella Neal. 17 great grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and one nephew Jason Cord, a host of cousins and family members. One special aid and cousin Mrs. Gwen Woods worked for her.