Dear Granddaddy -
It's because of your life-long devotion to our Heavenly Father that generations of Billingsleys will walk through this world with eyes WIDE open to the needs of others, hands that eagerly serve, and hearts that long for Christ Jesus. (They will also be more attractive than everyone else... They will be Billingsleys after all.)
You are an example to all of what a good man should be. Particularly, I thank you for the example you were to this incredible husband of mine. His unfailing love, ferocious loyalty, reliable honesty, and his deep need to help others comes directly from you.
Because of your fatherly love, James has learned to be a phenomenal man and Daddy. I see you in him every single time he teaches his children something new, runs to a friend who needs help, stands in defense of someone who desperately needs an ally, and I especially see you when he laughs at a joke so hard everyone around him can't help but laugh with him.
I love when I get introduced to someone new who hears my last name and says, “Billingsley? Do you know Gene Billingsley?” They always follow up that question with a story that illustrates what a wonderful man you were. I love to hear those stories, but the best part of that interaction is being able to say, “Yes! I know that man. HE’S MY GRANDDAD.”
I'm intensely proud to be a Billingsley. We will forever miss you.
It's because of your life-long devotion to our Heavenly Father that generations of Billingsleys will walk through this world with eyes WIDE open to the needs of others, hands that eagerly serve, and hearts that long for Christ Jesus. (They will also be more attractive than everyone else... They will be Billingsleys after all.)
You are an example to all of what a good man should be. Particularly, I thank you for the example you were to this incredible husband of mine. His unfailing love, ferocious loyalty, reliable honesty, and his deep need to help others comes directly from you.
Because of your fatherly love, James has learned to be a phenomenal man and Daddy. I see you in him every single time he teaches his children something new, runs to a friend who needs help, stands in defense of someone who desperately needs an ally, and I especially see you when he laughs at a joke so hard everyone around him can't help but laugh with him.
I love when I get introduced to someone new who hears my last name and says, “Billingsley? Do you know Gene Billingsley?” They always follow up that question with a story that illustrates what a wonderful man you were. I love to hear those stories, but the best part of that interaction is being able to say, “Yes! I know that man. HE’S MY GRANDDAD.”
I'm intensely proud to be a Billingsley. We will forever miss you.
