Rev. Dr. Wendell Billingsley, Sr.

      .REVEREND WENDELL BILLINGSLEY, SR. was a native of Alden, Alabama. He graduated from Alden High School
and served two years of active duty in the United States Army. He later enlisted in the Alabama National Guard and served
for almost 22 years. During his services with the Guard, he had the distinction of being the first African-American cook
and mess hall sergeant in the Graysville Unit. During his tenure, he attended Lawson State Community College, which
gave him the inspiration and knowledge to become an entrepreneur. He, along with his wife Catherine, opened Wendell &
Catherine’s Corner Store, which remained in operation for over 32 years, Gold’N Hot Beauty Salon, People’s Barber Shop,
and The Game Room, all in the Alden Community. He served as the general manager for the neighborhood baseball team,
the Alden Cardinals. They played in the Industrial League for 25 years.
      Reverend Billingsley was called into the ministry on January 10, 1993, at his home church of First Baptist Church, Graysville
East in Graysville, Alabama. For the past seventeen years, he served as pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Adamsville,
Alabama. He was a member of the Birmihgham Police Department’s Volunteer Chaplain Program and member of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference Pastoral Division of Birmingham. One of his proudest projects with the
SCLC was the Thanksgiving Drive that provided over 300 meals to the most needy in our communities. He was a member
of Maben City Lodge 597, the Vice Moderator of the Walker County Young Ministers Association, and member of the
American Legion Post 23 Graysville, Alabama.
      He went on to receive his Bible Certification, Bible Diploma, and Advanced Bachelor of Theology Degree from the
Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama. In June 2017, he earned his Doctor of Divinity
degree from the People’s Bible Training Institute/University of Bethesda Biblical Institute of North America and Haiti/
Cuba.
      Reverend Billingsley married the former Catherine Harvill on June 26, 1970.
      He was preceded in death by his father, Charlie Williams; mother, Edna Jones; two sisters, Yolonda Billingsley, and twin,
Glendell Billingsley Williams; two brothers, James Henderson and Charlie Billingsley, Sr.
Wendell’s passing has left a void that cannot be filled. But he lived a life that was full of love and joy, and he touched the
lives of everyone he met. He leaves to cherish memories and continue his legacy, his loving and devoted wife of almost 55
years, Catherine Harvill Billingsley; three children, Renee (Victor) Holmes, Wendell (Tiffany) Billingsley, Jr., and Porter
Billingsley; grandchildren, Mya, Omari, Cameron, Makaela, Parker Ellis, Rhyan Kate; god-granddaughter, Zoey Johnson;
sisters, Georgia Brown, Cheryl Tannehill, and Felicia Williams; brothers, Joseph Billingsley, Reginald Williams, and Corey
Billingsley; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Billingsley and Susie Henderson; aunts, Bernice Harvill and Brenda Dillard; and a
host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

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