Celestine (Taylor) Billings

Celestine Taylor Billings

Mrs. Celestine T. Billings of Atlanta, passed January 29, 2020 in Brandon, Florida.  Funeral service will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 11 a.m. at Saint Paul AME Church, 1540 Pryor Rd., SW, Reverend Isaiah Waddy, Senior Pastor, officiating, Reverend Dr. Glenn B. Dames, Senior Pastor of Allen Temple AME Church, Tampa, FL, Eulogist.  Interment, South-View Cemetery.  Mrs. Billings will be placed in state at the church at 10 a.m.  Family and friends are requested to assemble at the church at 10:30 a.m.

Anna Celestine Taylor Billings was born to Mr. Will M. Taylor and Mrs. Quincy Anna Foreman Taylor on September 17, 1917 in Americus, Ga.  

She attended Elementary School in Americus and graduated from Fort Valley Normal School in Fort Valley, Ga. She attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Ga where she was very active in the Music and Drama department, participating in many plays and playing the piano for both the departments. She graduated from Spelman in 1938 with a degree in Music and English. She earned her M.S.W. degree from Atlanta University in 1950/1951.

She married Dr. Richard Albert Billings of Atlanta, Ga.in December, 1942 in Americus, Ga. They resided in Atlanta, Ga where they attended St. Paul AME Church. At St Paul she was a member of the Optimist Club and worked with and accompanied the St Cecelia Children's Choir and participated in various other church, social and community organizations. Dr. and Mrs. Billings raised their four children in Atlanta: Safa Abdur-Rahman (June Celeste), Ann Bertrich Billings McClain, Richard Albert Billings, Jr., and William “Bill” Edward Billings.

Mrs. Billings continued to live in Atlanta and remained active in the church and community after Dr. Billings died in 1968. She was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, a founding member of the Sigma Shadows of Atlanta, Inc. and a member of the  MO-SO-LIT Circle in Atlanta, GA. Aside from being the best Mother and Grandmother anyone could ask for, she was a caring Educator, Social Worker, Administrator and Volunteer. She loved to travel and travelled extensively throughout the US and abroad. She retired as Administrator of Pineview Convalescent Center, Inc. in 1984.  In 2010 she moved to Brandon, FL with her daughter Ann (Bert) McClain. While in Florida she attended Allen Temple AME Church in Tampa

Celestine Taylor Billings departed this life on January 29, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings and by her husband, Dr. Richard Albert Billings, Grandson, Ahmad Ismail Damis –Salaam and great Granddaughter, Maryam Shareef, Survivors include children, Safa Abdur-Rahman, Ann Bertrich Billings McClain, Richard Albert Billings, Jr., (Charlotte), and William Edward “Bill” Billings (Daphne); Grandchildren, Mohale Abdul Malik Damis-Slaaam, Malkia Mohalaledi Damis-Salaam (Shareef Goodwin), Khidhr Abdullah Damis-Salaam,  Asma Amira Abdur-Rahman, Gerald Stephen McClain, Jr, (June} Richard Billing McClain (Donielle), Scott Allen McClain, Usama Abdul Haqq Billings (Amy), Khadeeja Masroor Billings, Fatima Zakia Billings, Mohammad Jafar Billings, and Taylor Renee Billings; 24 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great Great Grandchildren.  

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