Tommy Billings

Gerald Thomas (Tommy) Billings was born to Tommy Coy and Clara Frances Hempel Billings on March 24, 1943, in the hospital at Del Rio, Texas. Tommy’s family lived in Sanderson, Texas until he was in the 8th grade when the family moved to Austin, Texas.

Tommy graduated from McCallum High School, Austin in 1961. He attended the University of Texas in Austin and Blinn College in Brenham, TX. However, he received his Bachelor of Arts in 1969 at a small Baptist college, the University of Corpus Christi, presently known as Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. Tommy went on to receive his Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY in 1974.

Tommy married Joan Elizabeth McGehee on January 23, 1965. Their children, Charity RuAnn and Christopher Thomas, were born in Louisville, Kentucky while Tommy attended seminary.

Tommy worked many secular jobs, including campus Baptist bookstore manager, while he was pursuing his education, but he had been called by the Lord to Christian ministry. He served as Youth Director at First Baptist Church, Caldwell, TX and as part-time pastor to First Baptist Church, Christine, TX, and Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Gravel Switch, KY. His full-time pastoral ministries were First Baptist Church, Pond Creek, OK (5 years) and First Baptist Church, Waurika, OK. (9 years). His Christian ministry included Director of Missions for Mullins Baptist Association, Duncan, OK (15 years) and Executive Director for Guadalupe Baptist Association, Victoria, TX (8 years). He retired in 2011 and moved to Fort Worth, TX where he and his wife became members of First Baptist Church, Saginaw, TX.

Tommy and his wife moved back to Duncan, OK in 2015. They joined First Baptist Church, Duncan, where they had previously been members.

Tommy served his country through his time in the Army Reserves. He served his community through ministry and service organizations. In Waurika he was a member of the Lions Club and in Duncan he was a member of Kiwanis. During his ministry, Tommy served on several boards and committees, including a time on the board of Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.

Tommy was a man who loved deeply. He loved the Lord first and foremost and committed his life to serving the Lord’s church and His people. He loved the people who called him pastor. He loved his family and friends. In return, Tommy was a well-loved man who was also deeply respected by all who knew him.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, Tommy Coy and Clara Frances Billings, and his brother-in-law, Jerry Keesee. He is survived by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Charity and her husband Paul Phipps, and their children Micah, Caleb, Malachi and Faith Phipps. Tommy is also survived by his son Chris and his wife Teri Philley Billings, and their children Abbigail, Hudson, and Langtry Billings. In addition, Tommy is survived by his sister, Janet Keesee and her daughters, Amy Beman and Emily Wright and their families; and Jamie Hoyer.

Tommy was living in Wilkins Nursing Center at the time of his death and the family is thankful for his loving care while he was there.

Tommy passed away on February 26, 2019. The family visitation will be held at Whitt Funeral Home from 5:30-7:00PM on Thursday, February 28. His service will be held at FBC, Waurika, OK on March 1 at 1:00PM with his son-in-law, Paul Phipps, pastor of Southern Baptist Church of Rush Springs, Pastor Bryan Pain of First Baptist Church Duncan, and Pastor Bruce Humphries of First Baptist Church Waurika officiating. Reverend Larry Smith of Cleburne, Texas, will also be offering remarks at the gravesite. Tommy will be buried in Straley Cemetery in Adamsville, Texas.

Memorial contributions can be made in Tommy’s name to The Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/oklahoma.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.whittfh.com.

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