Gilford Winningham

Gilford “Bo” Winningham passed away in Hospice Care at the Veterans Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina on August 27th at the age of 64. He was born on July 30, 1960 in Savannah, Georgia and spent his early childhood there until moving to South Carolina in 1977. He was a 1980 graduate of Holly Hill High School and immediately joined the military where he served his first four years in the Army and remaining years in the Army National Guard. He was ordered to Active Duty during Operation Desert Storm before being honorably discharged from his duties in 1993. Bo was a master mechanic and worked on tanks while in the military. Before retiring from the workforce, he was a lead mechanic for Terminal Investment Corporation (TICO) in Savannah for many years. His duties included, but were not limited to, maintaining a dedicated fleet of terminal tractors, trailers and special equipment exclusively used by Georgia Ports Authority. He loved his family and was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and uncle. Anyone who knew Bo knew how much he loved to troubleshoot and repair broken things for family and friends. He enjoyed all things mechanical and electrical, restoring and upgrading cars, gardening, fishing, building and flying radio controlled airplanes/helicopters often alongside his sons and recently departed brother. He was mostly known for his calm, steadfast and quiet demeanor, but was very protective of those he loved. He always had a quick comeback with comedic flair and no matter the endeavor, his go-to response was often, “I’m working on it.” Bo is preceded in death by his first wife, Kathy, who was the loving mother of his two sons and his second wife, Tina; his parents, Mary and Hessie Winningham; two brothers, Lawrence and Phillip Winningham; and, two sisters, Nell Edwards and Lee Ennis. Survivors include his two sons, Jeffrey Winningham of Savannah, Georgia and Kyle Winningham of Vance, South Carolina; three grandchildren, Katelyn Auner, Jeremy Winningham, and Megan Seckinger, all of Savannah, Georgia; three sisters, Cathy Richardson of Vicksburg, Lisa Tapp Harris (Noel) of Guyton, Georgia, Ophelia W. Ketcherside (William) of Elloree, South Carolina, and numerous nieces and nephews. Due to the loss of two Veteran brothers within 8 days, the family will be hosting a Celebration of Life to jointly honor Bo and his brother, Phillip, at a later date. Family and friends who wish to attend will be notified.