Billy Ray Love

A family and friends visitation will be held Sunday, February 22, at 1:00 pm CST at Eastmont Baptist Church, located at 4505 Atlanta Highway. A celebration of life service will follow at 2:00 pm CST. Burial is scheduled for Monday, February 23, at 2:00 pm EST at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Savannah, GA.

Billy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jayne McCleskey Love, and their two children Clifford "Cliff" Love and Lee Anne "Annie" Love Alway (Josiah); four Alway grandsons, Simeon, Elliot, Peter and Tommy; sister-in-law Patricia McCleskey Bridges (Tommy); and nieces, nephews, and many dear friends that are considered "family."

God called Billy home at the age of 74. Born in Baxley, GA, to the late Carroll Grayson Love and Gwendolyn "Gwen" Wynelle Love, Billy grew up all over the southeast: Columbus, Savannah and Decatur, GA; Tampa, FL; and Jackson, MS. He attended Leto High School in Tampa, where he sang in the madrigal ensemble and swam competitively. He played baseball and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi at North Georgia College. In 1972, he began his 40 year career in what he called "the tire business," working as Assistant Tire Center Manager for BF Goodrich and then Tire Centers, Inc. in Montgomery.

Known for his strong work ethic, Billy was also respected as a fierce competitor. He enjoyed decades of playing church softball, basketball and volleyball. He loved watching Cliff and Annie play sports as well.

As a family, the Loves enjoyed camping and taking vacations with other Eastmont families. For the past 25 years, Billy and Jayne have operated the DCC (Dalraida Country Club), offering their backyard as a place for families to swim, host parties and be refreshed during the sweltering heat of Alabama summers.

Billy's real heart, though, was serving others behind the scenes, meeting needs whenever he could. In the Eastmont faith family, he found great joy and built strong friendships as he worked on the Tech Team, travelled internationally on mission trips, played a soldier in the annual Montgomery Passion Play, helped with missions yard sales, sang in the choir, and drove the bus for various outings. For over 20 years, he eagerly joined men from across the southeast to build churches with Eastmont's Carpenters for Christ team. He and Jayne fondly remember the many youth choir/mission trips they chaperoned in their early years. Their home was always open, whether for Bible studies or hanging out or for friends who just needed a place to temporarily call home.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to Eastmont's Refresh and Renew campaign. To God be the glory, both now and forever.