2024. Bill was married to Shelia Burgess Billings on August 15, 1969, and they were married for 48 years
when she passed to her angelic heavenly life in September 2017. Shelia was the love of his life, and a day did not go by that he did not think of her and long to be with her. Bill graduated from Treadwell High School in 1965 and he also graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Professional Studies later in his career.
Bill was an Air Force Veteran and served his country in the Vietnam War. Bill retired from the Memphis Fire Department after 31 years of service and he also worked for 5 years at the Collierville Fire Department. He was also a member of Bellevue Baptist Church. Bill was a Master Mason and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. He served as the District Governor for West TN for the Order of the DeMolay for boys and the Advisory Board for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls for many years. Bill was a devoted and hardworking man that loved his family and friends dearly. Prior to Shelia’s illness and other family obligations, Shelia and Bill also loved to travel, and they even got to experience several segments of the World Cruise through Holland America.
William “Bill” Billings, Jr was preceded in death by his parents and wife Shelia Burgess Billings. He is
survived by his brothers – Ronnie (Marsha) Billings and Richard (Anneliese) Billings. He is also survived
by his brother and sister in laws – Mark (Louie) Burgess, Robin Howell, and Lance (Amy) Burgess.
Bill was blessed to have the following nieces and nephews: Amber Sandefer Kelley (Ken), Ronald “Bubba” Sandefer, Hunter Burgess Mike (Lori) Billings, Ronnie “Bubba” (Jana) Billings, Traci Booth,.
He was also blessed to have many great nieces and nephews that lovingly called him Uncle Bull: Layla (Marc) Piantedosi, Amanda (Aaron) Keech, Olivia (Daniel) Oliver, Brennan Sandefer, William Denio, David Denio, Faylia Kelley (Kevin), Cas Sandefer, Brantlee Kelley, Randi Sandefer, Taylorfaye Sandefer, Ellie Kate Billings, Bayleigh Billings, Audri White, Rhys Keech, Chase Keech, Evan Keech, Abel Piantedosi, and Everett Oliver.
Though they never had children of their own, they love all of their nieces, nephews, the young men and ladies of DeMolay & Rainbow across the state of TN as their own. They also were the wonderful loving Godparents to Megan Landrum Tankersly, Robert Nathan Landrum and Hunter Burgess.
Family will receive friend from 1:00pm on Wednesday, May 8 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd, Bartlett, TN. Services will follow at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Methodist LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, Support one of your local Assemblies International Order of Rainbow for Girls or Chapters DeMolay in his memory.
