Mrs. Billie C. Pope, of Columbia, Mississippi, went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at the age of 88. She was born in Hathorn, Mississippi, to Clifton and Myrtis Cooper and has been a lifelong resident of Columbia. Mrs. Pope was a member of North Columbia Baptist Church. She enjoyed watching the birds that visited her back porch and considered daily checking on her friends to be her personal ministry. Mrs. Pope was devoted to her husband and helped him work their farm. She made her children and grandchildren, who called her "Mimi," a priority and cherished the time spent with her family. Mrs. Pope will be remembered as loving, caring, and always putting others before herself.
She was preceded in death by her father, Clifton Cooper; her mother, Myrtis Cooper Pittman; a daughter, Angela Pope Reid; and a grandson, Jordy Pierce. Mrs. Pope is survived by her husband of 69 years, James E. “Nun” Pope; a daughter, Ginger Pope Pierce and her husband, Glynn; a son-in-law, John Reid; four grandchildren: Brittany Reid; Nicholas Reid and his wife, Blair; Grant Pierce and his wife, Tara; and Gannon Pierce and his wife, Stephanie; and nine great-grandchildren: Cooper Reid, Noah Reid, Caleb Reid, Hannah Reid, Jaelynn Sandifer, Rhylie Sandifer, Corbin Pierce, Oliver Pierce, and Anslee Pierce. The family also wanted to acknowledge their eternal gratitude to a special cousin, Sadie Rayborn, who lovingly cared for Mrs. Pope during her illness.
The funeral service, officiated by Dr. J. Nicholas Reid, with the assistance of Brother Mark McArthur, will be at Colonial Funeral Home on Friday, September 22, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Friends may visit with the family from 1:30 p.m. until service time. Burial will follow in Pope Cemetery in Columbia. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Mrs. Pope's memory to Christian Performing Arts or the McCullough Sims Reid English Award, both care of Columbia Academy, 1548 Highway 98 East, Columbia, Mississippi 39429.
