1935-04-25 to 1994-03-05

James Alfred (Fred) Gillespie was born on April 25, 1935, on the farm Hoeko in Ladismith, Cape Province, South Africa to his father, James Thomas (Tom) Gillespie (1907-07-08 to 1947-12-12) and his mother, Helena Maria Aletta Langenhoven (1909 to 1988-07-19).

Gillespie Genealogy

Fred was one of several descendants in a lineage dating back to the 1820 Settlers to South Africa, possibly earlier. His father, Tom Gillespie, was the fifth of eight children born to Edward Alfred Gillespie and Maria Dorothy Terblanche. His father’s siblings included:

  • Arthur Edward Gillespie (1897–1952)
  • Percy Alfred Gillespie (1899–1957)
  • Mary Ann Evelina Gillespie (1902–1903)
  • John Peter Gillespie (1904–1949)
  • Susan Gillespie (1910–1911)
  • Joseph Benjamin Gillespie (1914–1969)
  • Maria Dorothea Gillespie (1918–1918)

His father Tom passed away in Kimberley on 1947-12-12, while his mother, Helena Maria Aletta Langenhoven, passed away on 1988-07-19 after a long battle with cancer.

Gillespie Siblings

Fred had two older sisters:

  • Cathleen Maria Gillespie (SIster)
  • Dorothy Francis Gillespie (Sister)

Van Huyssteen Children

In 1956-05-12, Fred married Maria Magdalena Van Huyssteen in Boksburg, Gauteng. Together, they had three children:

  • Henri Gillespie (Son)
  • Lorraine Gillespie (Daughter)
  • Petro Gillespie (Daughter)

Their marriage ended in divorce on 1965-03-10.

Van Blommestein Children

In 1969, Fred married Alida Johanna Van Blommestein (1938 to 2022) in the Western Cape. Together, they had two sons:

  • John Steven Gillespie (Son), born in Grootfontein, Namibia (1972 to 2024).
  • Anthony Gillespie (Son), born in Tsumeb, Namibia (1974)

Around 1987, Fred and Alida separated after James began a partnership with Jacomina Louisa Truter.

Death

On 1994-03-05, Fred passed away at the age of 58 in Mtubatuba, Lower Umfolozi, Natal, South Africa, leaving behind is children, current and former partners.