Jacksonville, FL (June 12, 2021) – It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that former NBA player and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member, Artis Gilmore, and his wife, Enola, announce the unexpected and sudden passing of their beloved daughter, Priya Gilmore-Matthews, on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. She died peacefully at home with her family. Priya, 44, was a loving wife to her husband, Mark, and a wonderful mother to their three young children, Mia (10), Mark, Jr. (10) and Payton (7).
A memorial fund has been set-up for Priya’s children, so if you would like to honor her memory, please make a donation at: www.gofundme.com/f/priyas-legacy-mia-mark-payton. All funds generated through this page will be directed to current and future expenses related to Mia, Mark, Jr. and Payton. Both of her sons are on the spectrum of autism, and Mark, Jr. will require specialized care for the remainder of his life.
In her short life, Priya left her mark on the world as a driven and accomplished woman who achieved success at a high level across each of her endeavors.
The middle daughter of one of the NBA’s greatest players, she was born with the basketball gene embedded within her. After a storied career at Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, FL, where she graduated in 1995, Priya’s basketball journey took her to Louisiana Tech University, one of the most elite women’s college basketball programs in the country. At 6’3”, she played the post position for legendary coach, Leon Barmore, and made two Final Four appearances during her career.
The Gilmore family made hardwood history during her time at Louisiana Tech, as Priya and her father, Artis, became one of the only father-daughter combinations to appear in an NCAA Division I National Championship basketball game. Priya in 1998 as a Lady Techster, while Artis led Jacksonville University to the 1970 title game, where they faced off against the UCLA Bruins.
Priya later played professional basketball in Poland before returning to the United States, where she ascended the ranks of corporate America, while also starting a family. She married Mark Matthews on November 16, 2002, and they had a set of twins, Mia and Mark, Jr. before welcoming Payton to the world three-years later.
While Priya’s presence will be missed, her legacy of hard work, discipline and her love of God and her family will live on through her beautiful children. Her example should serve as inspiration to young folks everywhere that persistence will be rewarded with success.
Priya is survived by her husband, Mark, her children, Mia, Mark, Jr. and Payton, her parents, Artis and Enola Gilmore, her sisters, Shawna and Tifany Gilmore, and two brothers, Otis and Artis II.
Funeral services are pending.