John Billie

John “Son” Billie, 84, husband of Pearl Green Billie, died Thursday, March 1, 2007, at Clarendon Memorial Hospital in Manning.

He was born in Clarendon County on Aug. 8, 1922, the son of the late Elo Billie and Lela Caldwell Billie. He received his education in the Clarendon County schools. He was raised in a Christian home and received Christ at an early age. He was a life member of Mount Pleasant Reform Methodist Union Episcopal Church, where he served faithfully as chairman of the trustee board and in the senior choir.

He was a honorably discharged World War II veteran of the U.S. Army.

He retired from the South Carolina Department of Transportation after many years of faithful service.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jovon Billie; a brother, Elo “Bud” Billie Jr.; and two sisters, Rebecca Carolina and Evelyn Taylor.

He leaves to cherish his memories a devoted wife, Pearl Green Billie of the home; two sons, Carrell (Frances) Billie of Willingboro, N.J., and Curtis Billie of Pinewood; three daughters, Beulah (the Rev. Herbert) Brown of Decatur, Ga.; Syleste Billie of Columbia and Joan Hammett of Manning; three sisters, Emily Harvin and Sally Leto, both of Baltimore, Md., and Ruth (Robert) Williams of Pinewood; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a host of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at Mount Pleasant RMUE Church with the pastor, Power Hampton Jr., and the Revs. Daniel Green, Thomas Junious and Melvin Bold officiating.

Burial was in Brown Cemetery.

Community Funeral Home of Sumter was in charge of the arrangements.