RUBIN BILLIE JR.
Rubin Billie Jr. was born on Nov. 24, 1942, to the late Rubin Billie Sr. and Edna McBride Billie. He departed this life on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at Agape Hospice Hospital in Columbia.
He accepted Christ at an early age and joined Congruity Presbyterian Church, where he served diligently as an elder, sang with the male chorale, adult choir and the gospel choir for their annual concerts. He later joined St. James Holiness Church and was an active and faithful member for 25 years as a deacon. He lived James 2:18, which says, "Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." Before his health declined, Deacon Billie served as chairman of the deacon board, devotional leader, member of the finance committee, member and advisor of the gospel choir for more than 20 years, overseer of church maintenance and lawn care, and the church van transportation driver. He used his God-given gift of singing to glorify God and he has left a mark that will continue to set a precedent for the choir to follow and live up to.
Deacon Billie retired from Santee Print Works after working faithfully for more than 30 years. He attended Congruity Church School and Eastern School.
Deacon Billie was united in holy matrimony to Thelma Montgomery Billie and to this union six children were born.
Those left to cherish his precious memories are his wife, Thelma Billie; six children, Cindy Gibbs, Dorothy Moses, Rubin (Cindy) Billie III, Minister Rembert (Naomi) Billie, Ronald Billie and Latisha (Christopher) Geter; nine grandchildren, Sgt. 1st Class Rico Baker, Christopher Billie, LeShondra Gibbs, Danielle Eigner, Shekeala Billie, Ryan (Kentia) Billie-Mann, Capt. Tyesha McBride, LeAndrea Gibbs and Devin Billie; eight great-grandchildren, Shanayah Abrams, Tayonesti Jackson, Sarai Mann, Imani Gibbs, Arianna Gibbs, Messiah Billie, Amirah Mann and Mariah Billie; three sisters, Rosa Lee Wells, Joann (Barry) James and Betty (James) Coard; six brothers, O'Neal Billie, Joseph Billie, Isaac Billie, Moise (Dorothy) Billie, Hercules Billie and Esau (Sarah) Billie; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Harrison; two brothers-in-law, Richard (Shirley) Lowery and Ernest Rose; additional daughter-in-law, Stephanie Washington-Billie; additional son-in-law, Leroy Gibbs; a special caregiver, LaKeiah Damon; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Deacon Billie was preceded in death by three sisters, Wilhelmina, Rebecca and Shirley Billie; one brother, Emmanuel Wheeler; mother-in-law, Elloree Lowery; a daughter-in-law, Marjorie Baker-Billie; sisters-in-law, Dianne Kelly, Ivory McCoy-Rose, Cynthia Wilson and Louise Billie; and brothers-in-law, James Montgomery, Terry Lowery, Jimmy Lowery, John McCoy Sr. and Dan Wells
Public viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.
Mr. Billie will be placed in the church at noon on Saturday for viewing until the hour of service.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Salem Chapel & Heritage Center, 101 S. Salem Ave., Sumter, SC 29150 with Pastor Alfreda Johnson officiating and the Rev. Rembert Billie, eulogist. Interment will follow at Billie-Simon Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, 5060 Rubin Billie Jr. Lane, Gable, SC 29051.
Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.
Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.