Dorothy Billups quietly slipped away into eternal rest on Sunday September 5, 2021. She was united in holy matrimony to Harrison Eugene Billups in 1962 and this union was blessed with 3 children. Two daughters and a son.
Dorothy grew up in Suffolk and graduated from East Suffolk High School. She was an athlete while in high school and played on the girls basketball team. After high school, she attended Norfolk State University for a while and later moved to New York City. During her time in New York, Dorothy learned to sew and she found sewing was something she enjoyed. When her two daughters were small, she especially enjoyed sewing pretty dresses for them. She even made uniforms for the Young Adult Choir at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ.
Dorothy was a homemaker. Her day started early in the morning with prayer. Then she prepared a good breakfast and packed lunches for her husband and children. Favorite dinners for her family were fried chicken, pot roast and on Friday it was fish, fried potatoes and cornbread which was a favorite item. Dorothy was famous for her Delicious Pound Cake which was a favorite dessert for big family gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas. There was not a crumb left.
Dorothy had a quiet, nurturing spirit. She would often attend to the needs of neighbor Ordress Watford. She also took care of children before and after school. Dorothy was devoted to praising and worshipping God at home and at church. For over 50 years, she was a faithful member of Faith Temple Church of God in Christ in Norfolk, Virginia under the leadership of Superintendent James E. Williams (deceased) and current Pastor Austin Young. She enjoyed being the Sunday School Teacher and member of the Usher Board. Dorothy was blessed to have a wonderful sister in Christ Lendora Taylor and her daughter Sister Annette Taylor.
Dorothy is predeceased by her husband Harrison, son Reginald Billups her parents, two brothers Jethro Bolling Jr and James Bolling. She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Graves and Amy Lewis (William) Norfolk, VA; step sons Willie Gene Billups (Vernice) of Charlotte, NC and Donald Billups of Lawton Ok; grandchildren Earl Billups (Inell) of Pike Rd., Al; Jerome Graves (Tereca) of Arkansas; Mitchell Billups (Phiniece) of Leesville, Louisiana; Ryan DeBraux of Tennessee; Travis Billups, Marcus Billups, Bryan Billups Aaron "AJ" Billups; Jeanine Howard (Corey) of Charlotte, NC; Reginald Billups of Charlotte, NC, Raphael Billups of Virginia, Beach, VA; Julius Billups (Kadian) of Salisbury, Md; great grandchildren, brother Randolph Bolling (Delores) of Suffolk, VA; sisters Marylene Bolling of RIchmond, VA and Ruby Luster of Washington, DC and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends
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