Billie Donald Moore

Billie Donald Moore, 80, died peacefully at home in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Born in Los Angeles, California, August 16, 1944, Billie grew up in the Klondike neighborhood in North Memphis. A consummate musician, as a youth Billie attended the Friendship Baptist Church, where he sang in the choir. Urged by his friends to join the school band, Billie used earnings from his paper route to buy his first trombone for a down payment of $5.00 at Stoltz Music Store. That purchase launched a lifelong love of that instrument, of band music, and of jazz.

Upon graduation from high school, Billie attended the University of Arkansas in Pine Bluff, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education. Subsequently Billie earned a Master of Arts in School Administration from Michigan State University. His career as a music educator began in Wynne, Arkansas, where for eight years he directed both the choir and band at Childress High School. From Wynne, Billie moved north to Albion, Michigan, where he again directed both the high school choir and band and created a new jazz ensemble. It was here that he met Karen, his wife of forty-five years.

After their wedding, the Moores returned to Memphis where Billie continued to teach music in a variety of schools while for his own enjoyment he played his trombone in the Sanctuary Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Johnny Yancey. Billie was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Memphis, for twenty-two years. In 2004 he transferred his membership to St. George’s Episcopal Church, Germantown, where he served as a choir member, a vestry member, a Lay Eucharistic Minister, a lector, and a member of the men’s group. Billie’s biggest contribution to the life of St. George’s was his foundation of the Sanctifica Wind Ensemble which he organized as a four-member brass ensemble whose goal was to play for the groundbreaking of the new St. George’s Episcopal Church campus on South Germantown Road in April 2006. From that small beginning, Sanctifica has grown into a wind ensemble with seventeen members and frequent guest players. The group plays for an average of eight services each church year as well as occasional special events including an annual concert. When rehearsing, if the group was having difficulty with a particular passage, Billie frequently advised, “just feel it,” and he certainly did; he loved directing Sanctifica and selecting new music for the group to play.

In addition to Sanctifica, Billie also started a beginner’s recorder consort with the intent of teaching those interested to read music and play an instrument. Always a teacher, even in retirement Billie could be found on Sunday afternoons after the church service teaching flute and clarinet lessons as well as directing Sanctifica’s weekly rehearsals.

A snappy dresser, Billie was often seen sporting a suit jacket of some pastel color and, always, a pocket square. Billie never met a stranger and could frequently be found in conversation with someone who, not too long into the conversation, was destined to hear the question, “Do you play an instrument?” If the answer was anything like, “yes, but it has been a while,” he was quick to assure the person that it did not matter, and then to issue an invitation to attend a Sanctifica rehearsal; and if the person then indicated he or she no longer owned an instrument, Billie would say, “no problem, I can loan you one.” Billie also loved to barbecue, especially brisket, and he spent many happy hours in his back yard lovingly tending his grill while regaling any guests lucky enough to be invited for a taste with stories from his youth. He and a few friends had a running disagreement over who cooked the best barbecue, and this author can attest that his sauce was quite yummy. And the aforementioned back yard was always meticulously manicured as, along with his wife, he was an avid gardener with an eye for design and detail.

Billie was preceded in death by his mother Syrilla Mitchell, his father Chesterfield Moore, and his brother Vance Moore. He is survived by his wife Karen Kleinhardt Moore, his daughter Lindsey Kleinhardt Moore, both of Memphis, and three sons: Danté Moore (Elisabeth) of Burlington, New Jersey, Illia Moore (Dorothy) of Nashville, TN.; Billy D. Moore, II (April) of Edgewater Park, New Jersey; and eleven grandchildren: London, Kennedy, and Asha Moore--all of Edgewater Park, New Jersey; Frank Bristol, Lauren McClinton, Ivy Alvarado, Fallon Moore, and Sydney Lewis--all of Burlington, New Jersey; Skylar, Illia II, Raegan Moore--all of Nashville, TN.; six great-grandchildren: Mekhi Bristol, Alex, India, William, Romin, and Gideon McClinton--all of Burlington, New Jersey.

Funeral services will be held Monday December 30, 2024, at 2:00pm at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 2425 S. Germantown Rd, Germantown, TN.

A reception will follow the service in Sturni Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Sanctifica Wind Ensemble Music Fund at St. George’s Episcopal Church.