Billy Black

Mr. Billy Edd (Bill) Black, 77, of Emerson passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at the Cartersville Medical Center after an extended illness. Born June 25, 1931 in Anderson County, Tennessee, he was the son of the late John Edward Black and the late Inez Carney Black Prelli. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bob Black, and a special uncle, James (Jimmy) Carney.



Mr. Black leaves behind his loving wife of 57 years, Hazel Dean Odom Black; his three daughters, Billie Lynn Knauth (Rick), Janet Underwood (Terry), and Amy Black; five grandchildren, Andrew and Suzy Knauth, John Underwood (Tracie), Tara Underwood-Dietze (Josh), and Aaron Black; two great-grandchildren, Ailish and Mina Underwood; brother & sisters-in-law, Bob and Shirley Odom and Nancy Odom Sutton; special uncles and aunts, Charles (Buster) and Teresa Carney and Theodore (T) & Aileen Carney; several nieces and nephews; and many loyal neighbors and friends.



Bill grew up on the family farm in Clinton, Tennessee with his grandparents, �mom and pop� Carney, and his three uncles, Jimmy, Buster, and T, while his parents worked in Knoxville. He attended public schools in Anderson County and a local technical college learning to be a master mechanic. He continued his training in the U. S. Air Force working on planes and serving during the Korean War. The Blacks lived and worked in several different states during their married years: Georgia, Tennessee, Nevada, Ohio, Louisiana, and Texas, but they always called Emerson home. They loved the adventure of travel and meeting new people.



Mr. Black was a community leader during the late 1960�s and early 1970�s in Emerson serving as the first Civil Defense Director during the Cuban Missile Crisis, serving on the city council, and organizing the first volunteer fire department. He served in his church, Emerson Baptist Church, during this same time as an RA leader while coaching this group of boys� baseball team. In 1969 Bill supervised the production of the first C5 Galaxy aircraft, one of the largest in the world, for the Lockheed Corporation. During the 1980�s Bill held the position of Vice President of Sales for Carpet Transport Inc. while living and working in Hammond, Louisiana. Because of this position Mr. Black gained even more friends and business acquaintances across the southeast by having a friendly personality, pulling pranks, and telling stories of the good ole� days. Since his retirement Bill spent many hours watching Braves baseball. He loved his family and friends and spending time with his �girls� and grandchildren.



A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church of Emerson, Highway 41 in Emerson, Georgia on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Warner Smith and Rev. Don Lumpkin of Wadley, Georgia officiating. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m.



Parnick Jennings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 430 Cassville Rd., Cartersville, GA 30120 is in charge of the arrangements.