Daily Press
May 17, 1994
LOUISE W. BILLUPS
YORKTOWN – Louise Washington Billups, a native of Suffolk, Va., died Saturday, May 14, 1994, in St. Jude Medical Center, Kenner, La.
Mrs. Billups was the granddaughter of the late John and Pinky J. Bannister and the widow of the late Deacon Benjamin Billups. She was a graduate of York County Training School, attended Virginia State College of Petersburg and holds certifications from Hampton Institute, William and Mary, Tidewater Community College and the Worldwide Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Calif.
A substitute teacher for more than 40 years with the York County school system, she retired as a payroll supervisor and retirement adviser after 25 years with the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown.
She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church where she was the organist since 1937, chairman of the Deaconess Board and Missionary Department, member of the Trustees Board, Pastor’s Aide Society, L.A. Norton and Bulletin Committee, and the First and Second Senior Choirs. She was a former Bible study teacher and Vacation Bible School leader; and she directed and wrote Easter pageants and Christmas plays for over 22 years.
She was corresponding secretary and assistant financial clerk of the Tidewater Peninsula Baptist Association, musician and assistant meditation leader of District III Missionary Council of Williamsburg, James City County, York and Newport News. She was a member of the Elections Board of Peninsula Agency on Aging and Adviser Council, York County Volunteer Association/Welfare Committee and the executive board of the Senior Citizens of York. She was secretary for the Retired Teachers Association of York County and a judge for the elections for Nelson precinct in York County.
She was past worthy matron and current secretary of the Golden Rule Chapter 66, Yorktown, and deputy organizer for Districts 4 and 15 of the Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star of Virginia, which embraces chapters in West Point, Williamsburg, Mathews, Saluda, Gloucester and Yorktown. In 1922 she was bestowed the honor of past grand worthy matron by the Grand Chapter OES of Virginia, and she served on the OES work committee and endowment board.
Her hobbies were serving others, music, traveling and reading. Her motto was, “If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living will not be in vain.”
Mrs. Billups is survived by her brother and his wife, Charles Roberson and Mahala Roberson, both of Newport News; her sister-in-law and her husband, Mary B. Dennis and George Dennis, both of Grafton; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday in Shiloh Baptist Church, Yorktown, by the Rev. Leon Townes. Burial will follow in the Masonic Burial Grounds with Order of Eastern Star rites at gravesite. The body will be placed in the church by 11 a.m. on Saturday. Family and friends will assemble at 307 Leigh Road by 12 noon on Saturday. The body may be viewed at Shiloh Baptist Church on Friday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Funeral services entrusted to the staff of Whiting’s Funeral Home, Williamsburg.
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