Rita (Glenda) Knatt Gilliam was born June 13, 1950 in Loreauville, Louisiana. Rita was the youngest of four children born to the late Foreman and Mary (Davis) Knatt.

Rita was called home to meet the Lord on January 9, 2018 at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

She graduated from Jonas Henderson High School in 1968. Rita also attended Tech Technical Business School where she received a degree in business management and accounting.

She was united in marriage with the (late) McArthur Gilliam June 19, 1971. They moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1976 to call this their home.

Rita worked in retail management most of her life. She worked as a manager for General Nutrition Center, Dillard's Department Store, Stage Department Store, then Walgreens where she later retired.

She was an active member of New Light Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana under the leadership of Reverend Isaiah Thibodeaux.

Rita Gilliam enjoyed life and loved spending time with family and friends. Her hobbies included gardening, shopping, traveling, and attending formal events.

She is preceded in death by her husband, McArthur Gilliam; parents, Foreman and Mary Knatt; sister, Anita Louise Sanders and brother, George Knatt.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her two sons, Damian Jevon and Derrick Jerrod Gilliam; an adopted daughter, Yolanda Gilliam Simon (Efron) all of Lake Charles, Louisiana. One brother, Alvin F. Knatt; Seven grandchildren, Desmond and Dominic Gilliam, D'Airaka White and Davin Gilliam, Jasmine, Efron Jr., and Joshua Simon all of Lake Charles. Four nieces, Sonia Dukes (Patrick) Walker, Sharon Dukes (Thomas) Smith, Tanisha Knatt (Robert) Esterling and Tia Knatt and a host of other relatives and friends.