Barbara Graves Billings

Barbara Graves Billings, 76, of Pine Bluff, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. She was born August 29, 1939 in Louisiana, daughter of W.L. and Nobie Lee Sanders Graves. She was reared and received her early education in Louisiana and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, graduating from Pine Bluff High School. At Pine Bluff High School, she achieved the honor of Band Queen in 1955-56, becoming the youngest student to do so at the time. Mrs. Billings was a member of First Baptist Church of Pine Bluff. She was a member of the John McAlmont Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Billings served by holding every office of her Chapter, including Regent for two four year terms as State Historian and two years as State Transportation Chairman and also as State History Month Chairman. Mrs. Billings was selected to represent her Chapter and her state as "Arkansas Outstanding Junior Member". As a certified genealogist, she had documented twelve Revolution soldiers in her linage. Mrs. Billings was also a member of the David Dodd Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the United Daughters of 1812. She was a lifetime member of the First Families of Virginia 1605-1607 and Pioneer and a Cavalier, arriving on the first supply ship the "Mary and Margaret", to the little colony of Jamestown. Captain Graves survived the First Indian wars and later shared a dinner of "Thanksgiving" with Chief Powatan and his tribe. She directly descended from Ralph Graves of Williamsburg, Virginia, who was selected a Burgess from Virginia to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Virginia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Billings, who died in 1986; and her parents. Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Billings of Pine Bluff and Rogers; son, Michael Billings of Pine Bluff; three grandchildren, Clintin "C.J." Gray of Pine Bluff and Rogers, Kristine Billings and Caleb Billings of Bakersfield, California; three great-grandchildren; and friend and long-time companion, Bob Abbott. A memorial service will be 10 a.m., Friday, December 4, 2015 in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson & Son with Reverend Kenneth Thornton officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Friday at Robinson's. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.