Astor Gillisford Black, Ii

Gil Black, Astor Gillisford Black II (43), passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 28th at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Ga. surrounded by family and friends.

Gil was born November 22nd, 1974 in Chicago,IL and grew up in Schaumburg, IL. While attending Hoffman Estates High School, he was active in football, baseball, and soccer. Also during this time, Gil discovered his love of playing guitar. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Illinois State University.

It was in 1996 that Gil moved south to work for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. After the games, he stayed in Atlanta, made it his home, and continued to work while pursuing his love of playing music.

It was in late 2006 that Gil would meet the love of the life, Melanie Lorenz, and the two became inseparable. They married in December 2009 and have 4 beautiful children together (Norah 7, Rowan 6, and twin boys Atlas and River who are both 1 years old)

Gil was a proud employee of the American Cancer Society until his death.

Gil loved people and was loved my all who ever met him. He made an unforgettable impression on everyone with his dimpled smile, booming laugh and welcoming personality. His absence will be missed by his friends, fellow musicians, and most of all by his family. Our hearts are collectively broken.

Gil is proceed in death by his maternal grandparents (Samuel & Ruth Hughes and Joseph & Bertha Mitchell) and paternal grandfather (Octavius Black).

He is survived by his wife Melanie Black, their four children (Norah, Rowan, Atlas, and River); parents Astor G. Black I and Jeanie Daniels; mother and father in law Joyce and Charles Lorenz; sisters in law Erin Brown and Emily Lorenz; and brother in law Sean Brown. Along with the family, he is survived by godmother Brenda Stanley; lifelong friends Jeff & Colleen Redlinger and Kim Calvary as well as hosts of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends from across the country and internationally.

A funeral mass will be held at St. Thomas More Catholic Church (636 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue) Decatur, Ga. on Thursday, April 5th at 11am. The service will be officiated by Fr. Richard Lopez. A reception will be held at the church following the service.

The family has asked that in lieu flowers that donations can be made to the family via Venmo @melanie-black-6.