Billie Faye Wilson

Billie Faye Wilson (nee Hamilton), 91 passed away on October 15, 2024, in Athens, Georgia.

She was born on July 8, 1933, in Horry County, South Carolina to Rassie and Dottie Lee Todd Hamilton, in a small town affectionately called Bug Swamp. She grew up in the Lowcountry on a tobacco farm with her grandmother, parents, and brother Jack. She eventually left Bug Swamp to pursue her English degree at Winthrop University in the early 1950’s. While there she went on a blind date where she met her future husband and the love of her life, Ruel Leston “Buddy” Wilson, Jr. (who was attending Clemson University, a Military Academy at the time). Before graduation, Buddy was deployed to Korea for the Korean War and upon his return home, he and Billie were happily married on August 25, 1955. They remained in Clemson while Buddy was pursuing his undergraduate degree and ultimately his master’s degree in statistics. While there they became parents to their first two children, Mona Lynne and James Hamilton. After Clemson, they left for Virginia Tech where Buddy continued his studies. They finally settled in Bowie, Maryland where Billie taught elementary school for several years and Buddy worked for the USDA. In Maryland, they welcomed their third and last child, Ruel Bryan. After many years in Maryland, the family made their final move to Athens, Georgia for Buddy’s job transfer with the USDA. Billie wrapped up her teaching career and purchased Jamar Cards and Gifts which she operated for several years. She spent the rest of her life as a wife, homemaker, mother, and ultimately adored grandma, at which she excelled. As their family expanded from children to grandchildren and beyond, they all spent considerable time together making lifelong memories at their beloved cabin on the Calabash River in North Carolina. This land is where the family cemetery remains and has been a cherished part of the family for many generations. Billie will be memorialized alongside Buddy within the family plot. 

Billie was creative and artistic throughout her entire life; she had a beautiful singing voice (and even turned down an opportunity at Julliard in her youth. She enjoyed and was quite skilled in painting, particularly nature scenes and she painted several works of art for family to treasure. She enjoyed painting with her grand and great-grandchildren, always complimenting their work and creating shared memories together. Later in life, Billie found her love of creative writing and through her creative writing groups, she made life-long friends. She published two novels and countless short stories based on her rural childhood in the Low Country. Beyond her artistic talents, her true super-power was kindness. She always brought an open mind and pure heart to every interaction. Anyone who met her loved her; and almost always said she was the nicest person they’d ever known. And she genuinely was. 

She remained devout in her faith and attended Milledge Avenue Baptist Church for over 50 years. In 2007 when Buddy, her husband of 52 years passed away, she remained devoted to him in love and praise for the rest of her life and her final wish was to mix their ashes upon her death. She was preceded in death by her doting husband Ruel Leston Wilson, Jr. and his sister Ramona Wilson Earnest. She is survived by her three children Mona (Tim) Wilkes, James (Susan) Wilson, R. Bryan Wilson, her 6 grandchildren Niki (Chad) Armstrong, Jeremy (Rachel) Wilson, Tegan (Sophie) Wilkes, Rachel Wilkes, Kayla Wilson and Jonathan Wilson, her three great-grandchildren Sumner Armstrong, Sullivan Armstrong and Asher Pacheco, her brother Jack (Marcia) Hamilton and their extended family. 

A celebration of life service will be held at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church on November 8th at 2:30 pm.

 In lieu of Flowers donations can be made to Milledge Avenue Baptist Church or the Charity of your choice.

Lord and Stephens, East is in charge of arrangements.