Evelyn Ames Billups, also known as Sallie, died June 25, 2012. She was 78.
She was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Birdsnest, Va. She was the third of George and Mary Lou Ames’ four children. During her youth, she enjoyed dancing and attending at the Weirwood and Tasley Fair with her aunt and cousins in Virginia.
She was the salutatorian of the 1951 graduating class of the Northampton County High School on the Eastern Shore. After graduation, she attended Norfolk State (now known as Norfolk University).
Billups moved to the Philadelphia area in 1952 where she resided in Yeadon and attended the Beaumont School of Nursing to become a practical nurse. On Oct. 11, 1952, she married the late James Calvin Billups of Media. The couple had three daughters, Olivia Ann, Carolyn and Marsha Lynne.
Although she lived in Philadelphia, she maintained close ties with her family. She traveled to Oyster Bay, N.Y., and Trehernville, Va., for summer vacations and to visit her parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Billups loved to travel with her adopted family (the Bullocks) to family reunions. She served on the Northampton County High School Reunion Committee and helped plan many fun filled class reunions in the Philadelphia area. At all these events she would always be found on the dance floor, doing the bop and cha-cha. Her daughters surprised her with 60th and 70th birthday celebrations, where she was the life of the party.
In 1974, Billups joined the Zion Hill Baptist Church where she served on the Women’s Day Committee, helped in the church office, served as the assistant church clerk and was president of the Inspirational Choir.
She was an avid wordsearch puzzler and could always be found sitting on her porch chatting and waving to neighbors. In her memoirs she wrote: “I loved my children and my grandson, Joel, is such a joy. I loved people and to do what was right.”
Billups was preceded in death by her brother, Davontz L. Ames.
She is survived by her daughters, Olivia Ann Cureton (Joel), Carolyn Billups and Marsha Billups; grandchildren, Joel Andrew Cureton and Carrie (Stephen) Davis; great-granddaughter, Cadence Davis; siblings, Ann Walker and George P. Ames Jr.; sister-in-law, Wendy; special cousins, Ethelyn Burnett and Victoria McNeil; and her best friend, Sally Smith.
Services will be held June 30 at Zion Hill Baptist Church, 53rd and Spruce streets. Viewing is at 10 a.m. Services will follow at 11:30 a.m. Burial is in Glenwood Memorial Gardens.
Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
