In Loving Memory of Bill Black

It is with great sorrow that I create this GoFundMe page in honor of my uncle, William Leroy (Bill) Black, or as I've always known him - Uncle Billy. On October 5, 2021, my Uncle Billy was called Home to be with our Lord and Savior. I can only imagine what a beautiful reunion it was when Billy was embraced by the Lord and by my grandpa, Leroy Black.

 

My uncle was a family man through and through. He spent 30 years with his wife, my aunt Jennifer. In fact, they've been together so long that when I was a kid I had to ask my mom which one of them was my blood relative! Billy was a devoted father to my cousins, Cheyanne, Brandie and Connor. I remember Uncle Billy and Aunt Jennifer praying to have a son who could carry on our family name, "Black". He was so proud of his 3 kids and I always noticed how he had such cool, unique relationships and conversations with each of his kids. His beautiful blue eyes would light up at the mention of his wife and kids. He loved them fiercely, and with every fiber of his being.

 

He was also a family man when it came to his parents, sisters, nieces and nephews. He was deeply loved by his parents: Leroy and Opal, his sisters: Marcia, Carolyn and Kelly, and his many nieces, nephews and great-nieces. I can't speak to the memories of mom and sisters, but I can speak from the view of his niece. He was the uncle that was always happy to accompany me on a quick errand. One of my favorite memories is just going through the drive-thru and grabbing ice cream with him. He was the uncle that streamed his nephew's football games online. The uncle that loved to tell all of us hilarious stories about his/his sisters' upbringing. The uncle that could strike up a conversation with you about anything!

 

He was a man of many talents and seemed to have knowledge on just about any topic you threw at him. From a young age, I remember my uncle talking about anything with an engine. If it had an engine and wheels then chances are he knew how to drive it. And, if it didn't have wheels, or brakes, or even an engine...well, then you bet he'd figure out how to part all those parts together and get it working! In more recent years, I have had conversations with my uncle that I cherish dearly. Most of those conversations were about the Bible. It always seemed like he would simply rattle off a book of the bible and a scripture number. I would quickly flip my Bible, or my Bible app, to that page. I would skim the page until I found what scripture he gave me - thinking to myself, "No way he just knew that off the top of his head!" Sure enough, the scripture would be the answer to the question I had. His ability to interpret God's Word was so incredible and inspiring. Uncle Billy's faith in God and God's promise never wavered.

 

Uncle Billy was a man who was so incredibly loved. Words can't express how much we miss him and how much we are going to continue to miss him. I know none of us envisioned a world without Billy in it. I also know that he spent his life on earth teaching and showing others the love of Christ. His steadfastness in his faith and his devotion to his family are qualities that inspire me. I hope that his memory also inspires you to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

 

How sweet a moment it was when Heaven celebrated his homecoming yesterday. We sure love you, Uncle Billy.

 

 

In lieu of flowers, we are accepting any donations to help with medical costs and family expenses.