She is survived by a son, Walter O'Neal (Celeste); granddaughter, Erin Riggs; grandson, Walter O'Neal Il; Catherine Frizzell; Robin Neaville (Tracy); sisters, Maxine Wallis (Gerald) and Elnora Graves, brother, Terry Lovell (Doris) and a host of great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her parents, W. G. and Clydia Lovell; husband, James E. "Jim" Gilmore; former husband, Robert "Bob" O'Neal; a son, Michael O'Neal; sisters, Mary Autry, Edna Algae, Julia Thomas; brothers, Robert, Weldon, Ralph and Royce Lovell.
Billie graduated from North Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee and attended West
Tennessee Business College. After college she worked for Murdock Acceptance Corp in Jackson, TN. She retired from First Federal Savings in Little Rock, AR in 1990 after 20 years of services as First Vice President.
When she moved to Little Rock to marry Bob O'Neal, she chose to adopt Michael (age 7) and Walter (age 5) and raised them as her own. She lavished them with her love and they thrived. She had many opportunities to pursue her active lifestyle as President of the first Band Booster Club at Joe T. Robinson School where her children attended and President of PTA's at Lee Elementary in Little Rock and Joe T. Robinson where she excelled at leadership.
Her busy life included her family who lovingly called her "Nanny", her membership at Second Baptist Church and her second family at Quapaw Towers in Little Rock where she lived for 35 years. She loved flowers, anything purple, dressed to the "T" everywhere she went with jewelry in every color, loved to dance with Jim Gilmore (she said he made her look "good"!) and was a bit strong willed! Many of us have received her kind handwritten cards and notes.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Baptist Hospital 4A for the excellent care and love they bestowed upon Billie and her family in her last days.
Memorials may be made to Second Baptist Church, 222 East 8th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202.
A memorial service will be held at Second Baptist Church on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 3PM.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6