He was born May 16, 1941 in Coffee County. He was proceeded in death by parents. Willie Dudley Gillette Sr. and Mable Irene McCormick Gillette, siblings Ruth Gillette, James, Muriel, Bobby, and Verbal, and his first wife and life long friend Debbie Goins.

JD served in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard service from 1965 to 1975. He was a farmer, a contractor/ masonry, and very talented woodworker. He built beautiful log homes, furniture, handcrafted paneling, and chimneys from hand picked stone.

JD is survived by children Toby (Brenda) Gillette, Frankie Gillette (Lee Hill), and Ashlie Gillette. Grand children Beau Tidwell, Noah Sharp, Matthew (Melissa) Sharp, Logan (Hunter) Gillette, Lucas Gillette, Tiffany Martinez, and Dustin Childers. Many beloved nieces and nephews, and friends.