Talmadge B. Gilley, Jr.
Tomb Position
Commander of the Relief, SentinelTomb Relief
Highest Military Rank
ColonelTomb Dates
Aug 1957 - Jul 1958Society Membership
Lifetime MemberTomb Reflections
Gilley's most memorable event while in the Tomb Guard Platoon was on May 30, 1958, when remains of Unknown Soldiers from World War II and the Korean War were entombed on the site. "President (Dwight) Eisenhower, Vice President (Richard) Nixon, and members of Congress from both houses were there," Gilley told The Daily News Journal in an article on the Fourth of July. "The amphitheater was filled with dignitaries except for one section, which had Gold Star mothers."Obituary
GILLEY, JR., Talmadge B. Age 76 of Murfreesboro, died Saturday, July 18, 2009. He was a native of Rutherford County and the son of the late Talmadge B. Gilley, Sr. and Linnie Burris Gilley. Visitation will be 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, at Franklin Road Baptist Church. Funeral service will be 6 p.m. Thursday at Franklin Road Baptist Church, with Rev. Mike Norris officiating. Homegoing Fellowship will follow the service in the school gymnasium. Burial will follow in Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors at a later date. He is survived by his wife, Linda Harris Gilley; children, Nathan (Shannon) Summar of Murfreesboro, Brandy (Wade) Pope of Murfreesboro, Katie (Terry) Walker of Murfreesboro; grandchildren, Ethan and John Summar, Christopher and Caroline Pope, Tripp and Benjamin Walker, and honorary grandchildren, Cole and Jessica Powers; sisters, Geraldine (Vaughn) Powers and Deloris (Don) Tenpenny, all of Murfreesboro; brothers, Orville (Brenda) Gilley of Springfield, TN and Ray Gilley of Murfreesboro. He was a member of Franklin Road Baptist Church, and an avid fan of Franklin Road Christian School Athletes. He was a graduate of Kittrell High School, MTSU, and a graduate of the school of finance at LSU. He was retired Commissioner of Financial Institutions for the State of Tennessee. He served in the Army from 1956 to 1958 and continued in the Tennessee Army National Guard from 1958 until 1989. He was a member of Army's Honor Guard at the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. He was on detail the day of the entombment of World War II and Korean War Unknown Soldiers. Published in The Tennessean on July 22, 2009Outside Tributes
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Units & Campaigns
3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)Tennessee Army National Guard
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Did you know?
What is the process to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?
Wreath laying ceremonies are conducted thousands of times each year by many organizations. If you are going soon, there is likely no availability for conducting this ceremony as the slots fill up at least six months in advance. Please visit arlingtoncemetery.mil for more detailed information and to request that honor if you are part of an organization planning a visit.
Wreaths are provided or arranged to be delivered by the public. All questions you may have about that ceremony can be answered on the ANC website or through the cemetery staff.
