Verner Column: Reflecting on a pillar of the community

I think most of us would think that the phrase "pillar of the community" is reserved for characters in fiction, or that the idea belongs to another time and another place. We lost a pillar of the community last week with the death of former Manassas Mayor Marvin Gillum. Mayor Gillum was a rare individual, one who combined unique character traits with a willingness to serve, dedication to his family, faith and community, and tireless energy. He was the right man in the right place at the right time as Manassas changed from a small railroad town to a thriving exurb, and he left his stamp on many of the institutions and places we benefit from.

Dr. Gillum was a Manassas native, a graduate of VMI who joined his father, V.V. Gillum, in a dental practice. When he retired from that, he became a stockbroker, which he continued until a few years ago. The list of positions of public service he held is a long one, including chair of the Manassas school board and mayor. He believed the various jurisdictions could work together on local issues and was instrumental in making that happen. He was a moving force in the revitalization of downtown Manassas and in the Hylton Performing Arts Center, which will open in May on the Manassas Campus of George Mason University.

I first knew Dr. Gillum when I moved here in the early '70s. He was warm and friendly, with a sincere interest in people and their activities. He was always neatly and impeccably dressed. I don't recall ever having seen him without a coat and tie. He played an important role in our church, serving in numerous offices and on various committees. When he spoke, people listened -- and Baptists don't always listen to everyone.

He was an encourager who loved music, and he particularly encouraged young people with their music. Every time the choir at church sang he made sure to tell us how much he enjoyed it. He played piano himself and wanted to take organ lessons from my wife. When she put him on a waiting list, he told her he didn't have as many years to spend on a waiting list as the younger students. Their weekly lessons became the basis for an enduring friendship.

Even when he retired, Dr. Gillum kept up his interest in the community, in people and in music. We saw him at church, at concerts and in the community, always surrounded by a group of people, always with a smile on his face. He sat with his wife Mardi in about the same place for church services and Chorale concerts. Several people from Chorale and the church have already told me that they feel his absence. He held fundraisers in his home for the Performing Arts Center and hoped he would live to see its opening. Sadly, this was not to be.

Dr. Gillum was an avid reader of this column and told me regularly how much he enjoyed it. When I wrote about wanting to be a cowboy when I was growing up, he told me he did too and called me his "cowboy buddy." When I wrote about baseball, he told me about playing on a town team when he was younger with people like Harry Parrish. "We weren't very good, but we had fun," he said, and I became his "baseball buddy."

When he was first diagnosed with cancer I believe he was given two years to live. He fought for five years. As far as I know, no one ever heard him complain about the illness or the long series of treatments. Even in the hospital he was positive and upbeat, and he continued to be so until the end.

And so, Dr. Gillum is no longer with us, but he left a rich and lasting legacy to his community, his church, his friends and his family. What he did and what he accomplished affect each of us every day. He set a high standard for public service and gave us all a model of gentility, warmth and friendship to follow. We will miss him, and we will likely not see another pillar of the community like him again.

Dan Verner is a Manassas resident.