Billie Northcut (10-1-23) service 10-7-23

Billie Marie (Miss Billie) Northcut, 92, of Waverly, Tennessee, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023 after living a long, full life. She was born Feb. 13, 1931, in Savannah, Tennessee, the daughter of William Jackson and Mackie Odella Stricklin Franks.

She was an only child.. She grew up in Hardin County and graduated as valedictorian from Jackson Central High School in Jackson, Tennessee, at the age of sixteen. She met and married the love of her life, AJ, in 1946, and settled in Pontotoc, Mississippi, where they started a family. They moved to Humphreys County, Tennessee in 1957, serving together in church ministry as their family grew.. They raised a family of eight children.

Mrs. Northcut was a teacher at heart. Her teaching career did not begin until after the raising of her family had stabilized. In the early 1960’s she founded Pixieland Kindergarten to formally start a career in education. This led to becoming a teacher’s aide in the County School System. In the mid 1970’s she aggressively started her work on a teaching degree. While working full-time and raising her family, she earned degrees from UT-Nashville, B.S. in Education; Austin Peay State University, Master’s in Early Childhood Education and Ed.S. Education Specialist; and continued her studies receiving numerous credits toward a doctorate degree. She was a member of the National Education Association (NEA), Humphreys Co. Retired Teachers Association, and Delta Kappa Gamma International Society.

Mrs. Northcut loved God and her family. Her commitment to God and His church touched many people wherever they served. Miss Billie’s motto was “To Love and Serve”. She loved knowledge and the ways to apply it. She read and studied the Bible intently and was definitely a Proverbs 31 woman. She was a teacher’s teacher. She taught various Bible Study classes. She claimed Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”. She taught the value of hard work and valued education, perseverance, and the love of music. Miss Billie and AJ’s greatest endeavor and achievement is found in Joshua 24:15 – “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”. That, she did well! The family is grateful to Magnolia Place Assisted Living for the care and support through the last few years for Miss Billie. Likewise, to all caregivers and personnel of Humphreys County Care and Rehab, we express our gratitude for the compassionate love and care you gave her. To our many friends and extended church families, the cards, emails, visits, calls, and the general support during this time we say thank you for your prayers and all you have done

She is survived by her children, Charles David Northcut (Marla) of Germantown, Tennessee; Joseph Franklin Northcut (Nan) of Wake Forest, North Carolina; Timothy Jackson Northcut (Jenny) of Mason, Ohio; Lizabeth Jonette Northcut Crowell (Mike) of Waverly, Tennessee; Kenneth Edmond Northcut (Lisa) of Jackson, Tennessee; son-in-law Garry Dean Elliott of McEwen, Tennessee; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren that she loved dearly.

She is preceded in death by her parents, William Jackson and Mackie Odella Stricklin Franks of Savannah, Tennessee; her husband of 62 years, Rev. Andrew Jackson (A.J) Northcut; daughter, Janice Northcut Elliott of McEwen, Tennessee; and sons, Thomas Steven Northcut of Waverly, Tennessee and William Dana Northcut of Evanston, Illinois.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Luff-Bowen Funeral Home in Waverly, Tennessee, and with interment in Richland Cemetery, Waverly. Memorial services were held on Friday, Oct. 7, at the Luff-Bowen Funeral Home. Pastor Willie McLaurin officiated the service.

Any donations made in her memory may be made to The Gideons International, or a charity of your choice. To God be the Glory!