Thomas Moore Billingsley

March 18, 1933 - August 28, 2020

Mr. Billingsley is survived by: Wife: Margaret Wright Billingsley; Daughter: Deborah Billingsley Cornelius; Son-in-Law: Ross “Rudy” Cornelius Jr; Granddaughters: Alison Cornelius Early and Amber Cornelius Daniel; Great-grandson: Kaleb Etheridge Daniel; Sister in laws: Elvia Woodard Billingsley, Audrey Woodard Billingsley, Bertha Grigsby Billingsley, Helen Jenkins Wright; Nieces and Nephews: Brenda Billingsley Boston (Terry), Beverly Billingsley Power (Jim), Donna Billingsley Phillipi (Victor), Mike Billingsley (Colleen), Teresa Billingsley, Brian Billingsley (Bridget), Traci Wright Street (Chip) and Alanna Wright; Mr. Billingsley is Preceded in death by: Father: McArthur Andrew Billingsley; Mother: Vernon Young Billingsley; Father in law: Roy “Jack” Wright Sr; Mother in law: Ruby Fundaburk Wright; Brothers: Millard Horace Billingsley, James Marshall “Pete” Billingsley, William Eugene Billingsley, Grady Earl Billingsley; Brother in laws: Roy Wright Jr. and Robert Milton Wright; Niece: Elaine Billingsley Forrester; In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Guntersville First United Methodist Church, 539 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, AL 35976; Habitat for Humanity of Marshall County, PO Box 2, Guntersville, AL 35976; Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. (Earmarked for ALABAMA KAIROS), 100 DeBarry Plantation Boulevard, DeBarry, FL 32713; Born: 18 March 1933 in Florence, AL. He grew up on a small farm in the Green Hill/St. Florian Community. Died: 28 August 2020 in Guntersville, AL Married: 12 March 1960 to Margaret Wright for 60 years. They were married at Central Presbyterian Church in Anniston, AL. Once married, they moved to Huntsville, AL where they lived until retiring to Guntersville, Alabama to move closer to their daughter and son-in-law. School: Graduated salutatorian from T.M. Rogers High School. Attended Florence State University (now University of North Alabama), University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH). Received Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from UAH in English. Military Service: He was in the 104th Battalion of the 31st Division, Alabama National Guard as a 17-year-old and then joined the U.S. Army, and entered active duty 24 September 1953 and was honorably discharged 25 January 1957 serving as a Sargent in a Nike Antiaircraft Guided Missile Unit in the New York Defense area. He returned to the Alabama National Guard service for a number of years after completing his service in the U.S. Army. Career: He worked for one year in the office of the Electricity Department in Florence, Alabama. The remainder of his career was spent at Redstone Arsenal serving as a U.S. Army Civilian first as an Electronics Inspector and spending most of his career as a Logistician. He retired as a Supervisory Equipment Specialist in April 1994. His job took him many places to include Germany, Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa and Korea and lived for short periods in Lawton, Oklahoma and Orlando, Florida. Volunteer Work: He was active throughout his adult life serving in many areas of the church to include an Elder in the Good Shepherd Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL and on the Administrative Council and Mission Chairman at Guntersville First United Methodist Church. He was active in the Alabama Emmaus Community, the Kairos Prison Ministry and the Discover God’s Call Ministry. He was one of the founders of the Spiritual Outreach for Addition Recovery (SOFAR) ministries at Cedar Lodge and remained faithful to its service until he was no longer able to serve. He was the first Executive Director of the Marshall County Habitat for Humanity Chapter and was of the founders of the original chapter. He was also a very active member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) and was currently serving as the Chaplain of the local chapter, having previously received the Floyd Clark Leadership award given to the outstanding leader in the 6,000 member Alabama organization. Church: Member of Good Shepherd Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, AL and transferred his membership to Guntersville First United Methodist Church when they moved from Huntsville to Guntersville. Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, travel, reading, journaling, playing the guitar, spending time with family and friends, and eating out. He was a devoted Christian, husband and father who will be greatly missed by many, many people whose lives he touched so deeply and richly.