of HELENA, AR
February 8, 1970 - February 3, 2024
Gill Gibson Pillow, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and physician passed away on February 3, 2024 in Helena, Arkansas, after a valiant battle with colon cancer.
Gill was born on February 8, 1970 in Helena, Arkansas to Kay McCarty Pillow and to Joel Gibson Pillow of Helena, Arkansas. After graduating from DeSoto School in 1988, Gill obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology at Mississippi State University. He attended medical school and completed residency in Internal Medicine/Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Gill and his elder brother, James, established the Pillow Clinic in Helena, Arkansas in 2005, where he was a founding partner and practicing physician.
In 1998, Gill met Jessica (Causbie) Pillow and they wed in 2002. In 2006, they were blessed with a child, Jackson Oscar Pillow.
Gill poured himself into his family and his patients. He loved attending DeSoto events and watching his son participate in football, basketball and track.
A gracious and compassionate physician, Gill touched the lives of many in his years of service at Pillow Clinic and he was an inspiration to all who knew him. Gill enjoyed many hobbies, including riding dirt bikes, riding side by sides, camping, canoeing and tinkering in his shop. He also liked collecting antique fans and listening to various genres of music.
Gill was preceded in death by his parents, Joel Gibson Pillow and Mildred Kay (McCarty) Pillow; his grandparents, James Hargraves Pillow, Mary Bell ''Bootsie'' Pillow, Gordon Edward McCarty, Sr. and Mildred Lowery McCarty. In addition to his wife and son, Gill is survived by his brothers, James ''Jim'' Hargraves Pillow (Brooke) and Edward ''Ned'' Lowery Pillow (Jill); his nephews, Taylor White (Mary), Gibson Pillow and Eli Pillow and his nieces, Lauren Yarbrough (Cameron), Ramsey Pillow, Sadie Pillow, McCarty Pillow, Mary Pillow and Katherine Pillow. Additionally, he is survived by his uncle, Edward McCarty, Jr. (Charlotte) and cousins, Michael Harrison (Dan) and Kelly Ransom (Matt).
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Helena, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
We are just now hearing about his passing and wanted Dr. Jessica and his son to know how extremely sorry we were to hear this. He certainly was an example to a lot of people for how to handle devastating physical problems with valiance and grace. Our thoughts and prayers to the family.
Gil will be deeply missed my prayers for the whole family.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I had the privilege of working with Dr. Gil for 2 years and he was also an excellent doctor for me and my daughter. He was such a kind person and excellent physician. He will be missed. Praying for his family at this difficult time.
We are very sorry for your loss and your family is in our prayers.
Ned, Jill and family-please know my prayers are with you and your family. Gil and I were on call together multiple nights and he was always kind and had great compassion. He taught me a lot of medicine as the upper level usually with some fun humor. It is easy to send our babies your way-we know the Pillows will care for them well! Miss you guys! Clare
I'm so sorry an sad to here of this. My heart is with the pillow family gill will be miss an he was loved I know only remember him.asy doctor but my best friend he was so easy to talk to about any problems you had . I will miss you my friend you go fly high an spread your golden wings for heaven has just got a awesome angel. RIP GILL
May God bless you all through this tough time. May you have peace and understanding.
Thank you Dr.Gill for taking care my Boys and Grandkids you are the best.fly high Dr Gill know more pain.and to the pillow family may God give all comfort and strength.
Hill was my family’s dr for many years. He was not only a good doctor but a very kind and compassionate person. He enjoyed talking to my husband about the Mississippi River when he went in to see him. He was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. May God hold all the family in his arms and comfort them at this time of loss. He may be gone, but will not be forgotten.
Jim long time no see but never forgotten.
So sad to hear the news of the loss of your brother. My prayers are with the whole Pillow family.
May God rest Gil’s soul in peace.
I know how it is to lose a brother.
God bless all of you Mary
To Dr. Ned and the entire Pillow family, Ed and I along with countless others share your sorrow and grief today. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I’m very sorry for your loss. May God comfort and strengthen all the Pillows as you grieve the passing of one so dear.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We will truly miss our doctor!!
To the Pillow family, we the citizens of Helena & West Helena and the surrounding areas, we lift your family up in prayer. May God enclose you all with his love and keep you near the cross, continue to stay bless and we will continue to pray for the Pillow family
To all the Pillow family you are in my prayers! He will be missed by many! Please. Continue to share his life with each other. I know in my family it helps!!
To Dr. Ned and the entire Pillow family, Ed and I along with countless others share your sorrow and grief today. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
My thoughts and prayers are with the Pillow family. Gill will be missed by many.
I am so sorry about Gill. He was always one of the good guys. Sending prayers to all of the Pillow family as you celebrate his life.
My sincere and deepest condolences to you all at this very difficult time. I worked with the Pillow family at ACH and have wonderful memories of them all. God bless you all. Lynn.
Dr. Jessica, Dr. Ned, Dr Jim, Dr. Jill , Jack and family,
We are praying for Dr. Gills family’s and work family. Dr. Gill was my doctor, but he was also my friend. He spent so much time with and he never gave up until he finally got to the root of my problem. He had a smile that would make it all ok. He had a heart of gold and he truly cared about his patients. There will never be another DR. Gill. He will be miss by so many.
We love y’all
James and Sonja
To all the Pillows: Sorrowful thoughts are with you, and lots of prayers.
Bob and Ann Lee
Gill and Jim both took excellent care of us while we lived in Helena. Never met nicer providers. Dr. Andreoli referred us to them and it was such a blessing. So sorry to hear about his passing. Prayers to the family.
To the Pillow family,
So sorry about your loss,
I know what will ease the pain.Think on the good memories that you had
With your husband, father,
Grandfather ,Brother or friend . It helped me!
Jim and Ned and family, I am so so sorry for what you are going through. My hearts hurts for all of you. I will be praying for you today and in the days ahead. I'm praying for complete peace and comfort that only comes from the Lord.
My he walk a path without pain!
We are sorry for the family's loss. Didn't know Gill for very long. But truly liked him. Great doctor. I'm sure he will be greatly missed by all.
Our prayers go out to the family.
May God be with each and every one of you.
I met Dr Gill 2003 while I was working at Helena Regional He was such a genuine. He help me to manage my Diabetes I will forever be grateful! The citizens of Marvell mourn the passing of Dr Gill Pillow
Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal
Jessica, We have just learned of your loss. We are so very sorry. We will be keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. May God comfort you all and give you all strength as only He can do. Our hearts are broken for you. Hugs to you and may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
In all my memories of Gill his smile stands out. Jim I want you to know my heart is breaking along with yours. My prayers will continue for your family to find peace and comfort. He is always in our hearts and memories.
Dear Pillow Family: My family was blessed to have Gill as our doctor. He was always caring, kind and helpful. I know he loved to practice medicine and loved his family. I am deeply sorry for your loss. I am holding you up in my prayers as you remember Gill's wonderful life.
May the Lord give you all comfort. My God bring you all through this. Cynthia Prowell
I am so sorry for your loss. He was a good man and a great doctor.
So sorry to hear of Gil’s passing. I will always remember his passions for the outdoors, the people of the Delta and for Medicine. He and Ned were 2 of the best MedPeds residents I have had the privilege to teach. Sending my prayers for healing to you all!!
Dear Jessica, Jackson, Jim, Ned, and the entire Pillow clan,
I am beyond saddened to hear this news. I know you all are a tight-knit bunch and that family is everything. May the bonds of your family strengthen you, comfort you, surround you in love, and give you peace.
The minute you meet the Pillow family, the first thing you notice is they are all ridiculously good-looking; Ms. Kay herself being just a rare and exceptional beauty. But then, when you have the good fortune to be with them for even a moment, you realize you are in the presence of goodness, real true goodness and lovingkindness, and mercy, and love.
That’s what Gill always was to me – completely at his core full of love and inherent kindness. Even after my divorce of his childhood pal, he never hesitated to reach out to me, to make sure I was doing alright, to see if I needed anything, to make me laugh with a silly joke. He inquired often after me and my three boys and their goings on and growing up, and he always lovingly filled me in on Jessica and Jackson and their life together.
We often exchanged photos of our boys- a source of real joy for both of us. He was so proud of his boy, saying time and again, it was the best thing he’d ever done, bar none. I often noted how lucky Jackson was to have Gill for his father, and I meant it.
Gill handled so much with such grace and humility, humor, and aplomb. He was a dedicated doctor, a devoted father, a storyteller, a Renaissance man. He was incredibly smart and had razor-sharp wit, a trait I adored. He loved to be outdoors, to drink life in, to experience every moment as if it was the most important.
When the boys’ father, David, passed unexpectedly last year, it was Gill who reached out to me first, who wanted to make sure the boys were okay , and that I was okay, too. And he kept doing it! Every so often he’d just drop in a text and ask. What a remarkable human.
He was a good friend to me when I needed one, and he didn’t have to be, but he was. That’s who he was, and I will miss him.
But somewhere, fish are swimming, and ducks are calling, a breeze is blowing, the sun is setting, and the music’s just right…and he and Goose have just cracked open a cold one and are telling tall tales to all those who sure are happy to see him.
Not goodbye, old friend, just, ‘till then…
So sorry to hear this he was and incredible doctor and Jessie loved him dearly he will be missed
Please accept my deepest heartfelt sympathy. All of you are in my thoughts and prayers. Dr. Jessica and Jack, may God bring comfort to your hearts.
Dear Ned and all the Pillow family I am deeply sadden at the loss of your Loved one your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this time.
Very sad news! Prayers and best wishes to this wonderful Family!
Our deepest condolences to the Pillow family in your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry for your loss, prayers for the family.
You could not have met a more caring and compassionate physician. He always had a smile on his face and a ear to listen. Jessica and family, so sorry for your loss. Gill was an exceptional person.
Prayers and hugs being sent your way. He will truly be missed.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my prayers to help you through this difficult and sad time.
Dr. Gill was my doctor for many years. Not only was he my doctor but my friend. He was such a caring, dedicated man. I am going to miss him terribly. Prayers for his family and work family. I am sorry for your loss.
Sending my deepest condolences with the most sincere love and respect for the precious Pillow Family
Sybil Beasley
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Gill touched everyone who met him. He made the world better Jim& Diane Mayer
I am so very sorry for your loss. I pray that GOD will keep his arms around you.
June White
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the Pillow Family. May God Comfort you during this very difficult time. May he provide Peace within all your lives.
Godspeed. My prayers are with y’all.
To the McCarty and Pillow Family
I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Gill’s parents and my son, Lester Perkins and Jim shared the same birthday. He went to school with the boys at Desota and was friends with Jim, Gill and Ned. He was a sweet young man and will be missed.