1943
Amelia
2024
Amelia Billingsley
October 7, 1943 — August 12, 2024
E. Amelia Billingsley, age 80, passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024, at her home in Cartersville.
Amelia was born October 7, 1943, in Rome, Georgia. She was the second of six children of Odis Jones and Almeda Lucas Jones. Amelia grew up in Rome and was educated at Emmanuel College, the University of Georgia, and Texas A&I University.
While working for the National Teacher Corp through Texas A&I, Amelia met Weyland Billingsley, and they were married in 1970. Amelia returned to Rome with Weyland, and a few years later their son Michael was born.
Amelia worked primarily as a teacher of English, reading, and composition. She started her teaching career at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia before working for the National Teacher Corp in Mission, Texas, in the 1960s and '70s; then as an English and ESL teacher for Rome City Schools, Floyd Correctional Institute, and Coosa Valley Technical College in the 1970s and '80s. In 1985 she was hired as an instructor of English and Learning Support at Floyd College, where she worked until her retirement as a full professor in 2003. Shortly after her retirement she was selected as a Professor Emeritus, and students and colleagues described her as kind, encouraging, a supportive mentor, and a fierce advocate for students. Above all, however, they recall her as unflappable.
Amelia loved travel with family and friends, often citing Susan Sontag's line, "I haven't been everywhere, but it is on my list," as inspiration and credo. She was proud to have visited more than 60 countries and slept on all seven continents. She was as comfortable in a tent at the base of Mount Everest as she was at hotel in Paris, and she was always eager to share travel suggestions with others and kindle in them a similar affection for travel and adventure.
A significant aspect of Amelia's travel was her medical mission work in Central America, which began in the 1960s and extended through the rest of her life. In 2016 she published a book, Vision Caster, about Reverend Hugh B. Skelton and his family, with whom she and Weyland worked on many of their mission trips. Vision Caster was translated into Portuguese and Spanish, and in 2017 a follow-up to it, On the Edge of a Miracle , was published. Amelia and Weyland were also active volunteers for the Red Cross. This work reflected the life of service and ministry in which she passionately believed.
In reflecting on her life, Amelia described herself as a "teacher, traveler, pilgrim, and servant of the Lord." Her loved ones will remember her as courageous, a firecracker, a translator, a fighter, an inspiration, a blessing, and as someone who knew what she wanted and got more from life than most. Most especially, though, she will be remembered as a dear and faithful friend, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.
Amelia was preceded in death by her mother and father, as well as her sister Frieda, and her brothers Benjamin and Jessie Lamar. She is survived by her husband, Weyland; her son, Michael (Kate); her sisters, Vonnie Faye (Steve) Robertson and Kathy Jones; as well as her grandchildren, Zion, Zemi, and Oz.
Visitation will be held Sunday, August 17, at 2 p.m. at Jennings Funeral Home, 430 Cassville Road, Cartersville, Georgia, with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m.
Amelia was born October 7, 1943, in Rome, Georgia. She was the second of six children of Odis Jones and Almeda Lucas Jones. Amelia grew up in Rome and was educated at Emmanuel College, the University of Georgia, and Texas A&I University.
While working for the National Teacher Corp through Texas A&I, Amelia met Weyland Billingsley, and they were married in 1970. Amelia returned to Rome with Weyland, and a few years later their son Michael was born.
Amelia worked primarily as a teacher of English, reading, and composition. She started her teaching career at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia before working for the National Teacher Corp in Mission, Texas, in the 1960s and '70s; then as an English and ESL teacher for Rome City Schools, Floyd Correctional Institute, and Coosa Valley Technical College in the 1970s and '80s. In 1985 she was hired as an instructor of English and Learning Support at Floyd College, where she worked until her retirement as a full professor in 2003. Shortly after her retirement she was selected as a Professor Emeritus, and students and colleagues described her as kind, encouraging, a supportive mentor, and a fierce advocate for students. Above all, however, they recall her as unflappable.
Amelia loved travel with family and friends, often citing Susan Sontag's line, "I haven't been everywhere, but it is on my list," as inspiration and credo. She was proud to have visited more than 60 countries and slept on all seven continents. She was as comfortable in a tent at the base of Mount Everest as she was at hotel in Paris, and she was always eager to share travel suggestions with others and kindle in them a similar affection for travel and adventure.
A significant aspect of Amelia's travel was her medical mission work in Central America, which began in the 1960s and extended through the rest of her life. In 2016 she published a book, Vision Caster, about Reverend Hugh B. Skelton and his family, with whom she and Weyland worked on many of their mission trips. Vision Caster was translated into Portuguese and Spanish, and in 2017 a follow-up to it, On the Edge of a Miracle , was published. Amelia and Weyland were also active volunteers for the Red Cross. This work reflected the life of service and ministry in which she passionately believed.
In reflecting on her life, Amelia described herself as a "teacher, traveler, pilgrim, and servant of the Lord." Her loved ones will remember her as courageous, a firecracker, a translator, a fighter, an inspiration, a blessing, and as someone who knew what she wanted and got more from life than most. Most especially, though, she will be remembered as a dear and faithful friend, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.
Amelia was preceded in death by her mother and father, as well as her sister Frieda, and her brothers Benjamin and Jessie Lamar. She is survived by her husband, Weyland; her son, Michael (Kate); her sisters, Vonnie Faye (Steve) Robertson and Kathy Jones; as well as her grandchildren, Zion, Zemi, and Oz.
Visitation will be held Sunday, August 17, at 2 p.m. at Jennings Funeral Home, 430 Cassville Road, Cartersville, Georgia, with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Amelia Billingsley, please visit our flower store.
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