Obituary of Redenia C. Gilliam-Mosee

Redenia C. Gilliam-Mosee, a resident of Atlantic, New Jersey, passed peacefully on January 1, 2010. She was born on March 22, 1948, to Vera Mae (Donalson) and James Gilliam Sr., in Newark, New Jersey. She was baptized at St. James A.M.E. Church, Newark, New Jersey. In 1959, the family moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey, due to health of James Gilliam, Sr. The third oldest of four children (and the only girl), Redenia attended Atlantic City elemetnary schools, and graduated in 1966 from Atlantic City High School, where she had the distiction of playing the organ in the Atlantic City Convention Hall Ballroom for the commencement exercises of her graduating class. Redenia furthered her education at Wilberforce University, graduating cum laude (economics and poilitical science) in 1970, followed by a MCRP (Masters in City and Regional Planning) in 1972 from Rutgers, The State University. She spent her junior year abroad in England, studying at Hull University. She traveled extensively throughout Europe and Aftica. From 1972 to 1979, Ms. Gilliam-Mosee taught at Livingston College-Rutgers University in the Department of Urban Studies and Community Development, where she was the recipient of the College's first "Blumberg Excellence in Teaching Award." Returning home to Atlantic City in 1978, Ms. Gilliam-Mosee's first assignment with the Bally Manufacturing (The parent company of Bally's Park Place Casino Hotel) was to develop a slot training program for New Jersey's casino industry by working with Atlantic Community College's Casino Career Institute. Ms. Gilliam-Mosee was employed by Bally's and its subsequent companies, Hilton and Caesar's Entertainment for twenty-seven years. She was the first African American female Vice-Pesident in Atlantic City's casino industry, and was subsequently promoted to Senior Vice-President. As Senior Vice-President of Governmental Relations and Planning, Ms. Gilliam-Mosee's responsibilities included: affirmative action and hotel training; coordination of emergency management and homeland security; casino regulatory documentation and testimony; retail management; charitable programs; and the development of corporate community projects utilizing the Company's Casino Reinvestment Development funds. Specifically, Bally's and Ms. Gilliam-Mosee were recognized for developing the first casino sponsored housing program for home ownership in Atlantic City -Jacobs Family Terrace. This 72 unit condominium at New York and Baltic Avenues consisting of two and three bedroom units was named in memory of Judge Herbert S. Jacobs, the first African American Family Court Judge in Atlantic County. Additionally, she supervised the construction and renovation of two Boys and Girls Clubs, and the renovation of Park Square- a 35 unit rental project at Boston and Atlantic Avenues in Atlantic City. These housing and community facilities totaled over $12 Million. Ms. Gilliam-Mosee was the first woman elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce in its history. While Chairman of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce (1990-93), she created a coalition of business, community and labor leaders to petition the New Jersey Legislature to support a new Convention Center in Atlantic City; proposed the consolidation of several local Chambers of Commerce; and urged local governmental officials to allow an air show over the ocean. In 2003, Redenia was instrumental in leading efforts before City Council to consider beach bars in Atlantic City Hilton became the first casino hotel allowed to test this new tourist amenity. Ms. Gilliam-Mosee served as Business Administrator for the City of Atlantic City, New Jersey from November 2008 through her March 2009 resignation due to health issues. She was a charter member of the Atlantic County Women's Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Jitney Association's Atlantic City Hall of Fame. She was voted one of Glamour Magazine's Success Choices; and previously honored as Business Woman of the Year by the Greater Atlantic City Chambers of Commerce. She received honors from many civic, religious and fraternal organizations. Ms. Gilliam-Mosee was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority; the Atlantic City Chapter of Links; and life member of the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women. Her hobby was golf. She was one of the founders of the area's Urban Youth Golf Prgram, now the First Tee of Greater Atlantic City, where she served as Chairperson, and she was a member of the Board of Directors of the LPGA Shoprite Classic Tournament. She was a twelve year President fo the Atlantic City Boys and Girls Club. Ms. Gilliam-Mosee was a life member and Trustee of St. James A.M.E. Church in Atlantic City, New Jersey. A widow, Ms. Gilliam-Mosee was married to the late Isreal Mosee for fifteen years. Mourning her loss: brothers, Dr James Gilliam, Jr., of Columbia, Maryland, and Attorney Latha A. Gilliam of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey; a special cousin Ronald B. Fluellen of Atlantic City, New Jersey; nephews, Lorenzo D Gilliam II, Latha Alexander Gilliam, Walter Abilla (Theo)of Galloway, New Jersey, and bobby Abilla (Dr. Claire) of Jersey City, New Jersey; nieces Julet Nicole gilliam of New York City, New York, Ashley Mariah Gilliam of Egg Harbor Townshipm, New Jersey, Tadai Abilla of Balloway, New Jersey, Jackie Abilla of Prairir, Texas, Carole and Christine Abilla fo Novi, Michigan; and many other famly members and life-long friends.