The Courage to Succeed: A True American Dream. -Book Series: To Billy Jean

 

To Billy Jean

I could not have written this book without talking about Billy Jean. She was beautiful—inside and out—the kind of beauty that wasn’t just seen but felt, radiating warmth and love to everyone who crossed her path.

The moment I met Billy Jean was the summer of 2005, a year of significant changes for me. I had just moved from Tampa, Florida, to Alabama, eager to start fresh and searching for a church home. Something led me to the First Church of the Nazarene in Dothan, Alabama. I still don’t know if it was chance, divine intervention, or both. She was one of the first people to greet me, and from that moment, it felt like I had found something I didn’t even know I was missing—a mother.

Our bond was instant and undeniable. From that first meeting, Billy Jean became one of the most important people in my life. We were inseparable. She welcomed me into her life, home, and family like I was one of her own. I joined her family for countless meals, gatherings, and momentous occasions. Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas mornings were spent surrounded by the love she so effortlessly cultivated. I would spend entire weekends at her home, where her beloved husband, whom I affectionately called “Mr. Billy,” would greet me like I was their daughter.

Billy Jean didn’t just open her home to me; she opened her heart. During some of the most challenging times of my life, when I needed a place to stay or simply a refuge from life’s storms, I knew I could turn to her. Her door was always open, and her embrace was always welcoming. Being with her felt like being at home.

She was my cheerleader and encourager, constantly present when I needed it most. Billie Jean made you feel like you mattered and were worth fighting for and loving. She saw potential in me even when I doubted myself. She wasn’t just a friend or mother figure but a guiding light.

Billy Jean celebrated my milestones as if they were her own. She organized my wedding reception, ensuring every detail was perfect. She also took charge of my graduation party, making me feel honored and loved in ways I will never forget. She had a gift for making every moment special, every memory unforgettable.

She passed away recently at the age of 85. She wasn’t sick; it was just her time to go home to the Lord after a brief illness. That was Billie Jean—always ready, always faithful. Her passing was peaceful, just as her life had been, filled with grace and love.

If I regret one thing, it’s not visiting her sooner, as I had promised. Life distracts us from what’s truly important, and I let time slip away. But even in her absence, I take comfort in knowing that we always stayed in touch, and she always knew how much she meant to me.

Billy Jean was a unique soul, the kind of person you only meet once in a lifetime if you’re lucky. She was proof that angels walk among us. Writing about her here is a tribute and a thank-you to the woman who changed my life in ways I’m still discovering.

Thank you, Billy Jean, for your love, kindness, and unwavering belief in me. Thank you for being a second mother when I needed one most. You will always hold a piece of my heart, and your memory will live on in every act of kindness I pass on to others.