This section covers the genealogical research files of Alice Magdalin Billings of Traphill. Her Billings family research was donated to the Wilkes Genealogical Society by the Billings family and is preserved for public use in our Genealogy Research Room.

Alice was a longtime member of the Society and, with her sister Naomi Billings Gordon, co-authored The Billings Families of North Carolina and Virginia (1990).

About Alice M. Billings

From the Wilkes Journal Patriot, March 23, 2015

Alice Magdalin Billings, 94, of 497 Absher Road, Traphill, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 19, 2015, at her home.

She was born on July 1, 1920. Her parents were Bruce and Maud Lyon Billings. Alice was the granddaughter of the late James Oscar and Phoebe Cansadie Smoot Billings. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two siblings, Naomi Billings Gordon and Violet Billings.

Alice attended the two-room school at Mount Pisgah through grade six and entered Traphill when consolidation took place. She graduated as salutatorian of her class in 1936, continued to Brevard College for two years, and finished at Women’s College in Greensboro in 1946 with a major in home economics.

She spent three years teaching vocational home economics at Lowell, a small mill town near Charlotte. Moving to Washington, D.C., she worked in the office of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for several years. Later, she moved back to North Carolina to live with and take care of her parents. There, with a few others, she started a farmer’s market in North Wilkesboro, taking in produce and baked goods once a week (twice a week in the summer). After the death of her parents and aunt, she continued on the farm, raising Black Angus cattle, vegetables, fruits, and flowers. She continued her gardening until the last two years.

Alice was active in church work at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, where she belonged for 80 years. She taught Sunday school for 40 years. As a way of showing her love for the youth, she always made cupcakes on each one’s birthday. Everyone enjoyed her coffee cakes over the years. Like her mother, aunt, and grandmother before her, Alice placed fresh flowers from her garden in the church each Sunday for many years.

She was honored by the Stone Mountain Baptist Association with a co-dedication (with Paul Coffey) in honor of her work in religious affairs over the years. She was the church treasurer for 40 years.

She was a member of the Wilkes County Genealogical Society for many years. With her love and expertise in genealogy, she co-authored with her sister, Naomi Billings Gordon, “The Billings Families of North Carolina and Virginia” in 1990. A copy has been contributed to each Wilkes County Library and the Mount Airy Library.

She is survived by several first cousins, Nina Billings Sturdivant, Lillie Billings Swaim, and Melba Billings Johnson, all of Winston-Salem; Lena Billings Pruitt of Advance; Sue Billings Cooke of Mount Airy; and Willard Billings, George Billings, and James Oscar Billings, all of Traphill. Also, she is survived by her cows and many cats.

Funeral services were held at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church on Monday, March 23, 2015, at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Mike Caldwell and the Rev. E. R. Wiles officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.