Pamela Bilyeu

Mary Pamela Harris “Pam” Bilyeu, mother, grandmother, and legendary hostess, passed away February 18, 2026, peacefully at home, surrounded by love, following a two-year battle with cancer.

Born on October 29, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while her father was stationed stateside with the U.S. Navy, Pam’s life was marked from the beginning by curiosity and connection. As a child, she spent cherished summers with her grandparents in Waverly, Tennessee, at Hurricane Mills, days that sparked her lifelong love of tradition and hospitality.

Pam attended The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas, and later graduated from Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After college, she married and raised her two daughters in Atlanta, where she built both a family and a career rooted in creativity and connection.

A natural entertainer with impeccable taste, Pam first explored interior design before finding her true calling in the culinary world. She became a successful Atlanta caterer, owning a retail gourmet take-out shop and catering business that reflected her belief that food was both art and love. Whether hosting intimate dinners or grand celebrations, Pam was truly the “hostess with the mostest,” bringing people together with warmth, style, and joy.

In 1997, Pam married Dr. Arthur E. Bilyeu and moved to Gainesville, Georgia, where she quickly became an integral part of the community. Pam and Art shared a life rich with travel, friendship, laughter, and countless memorable evenings entertaining friends in their home.

Pam was also a devoted cat mom, a collector of strays, both people and pets, and a woman whose heart always made room for one more soul in need of love and care. Her generosity, humor, and fierce loyalty defined her relationships and left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know her.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Catherine Shannon McCoy, and her husband, Dr. Arthur E. Bilyeu. She is survived by her daughter, Erin Sjostrom (Lee); her two grandchildren, Maggie and Will; and Sharon Bruce, her dear and steadfast friend.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Sharon for coming into Pam and Art’s lives and never leaving. Your presence gave them joy, love, and independence. Your devotion was a true gift. You are, and always will be, an angel in this family’s story. The family would also like to thank her gentle end-of-life caregivers, especially Keisha T., for easing Pam’s transition with grace and dignity.

In keeping with Pam’s wishes, there will be no public memorial service. To celebrate her life, she hoped friends and loved ones would gather, share a meal, tell stories, and raise a glass in her honor.

In memory of Pam, please consider supporting the Addiction Alliance of Georgia. Donations may be made online at:
https://www.addictionallianceofgeorgia.org

Or by check payable to “Emory.” Please write “Addiction Alliance of Georgia” in the memo line and mail to:

Addiction Alliance of Georgia
c/o Office of Gift Accounting at Emory Healthcare
1762 Clifton Road
Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30322-4001

And finally, for those who have been waiting patiently, here is Pam’s Salad Dressing, the real one.

Pam’s Vinaigrette:
¾ cup red wine vinegar
1½ cups canola oil
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Combine the vinegar, pepper, salt, sugar, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce in a blender. With the blender running, slowly stream in the oil until fully emulsified.

One last thing. Pam wants everyone to know she did it her way.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200. For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com  

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https://www.facebook.com/Memorialparknorth

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