Barbara Billberry

Barbara Jean Billberry was born Barbara Jean Gildersleeve on April 10, 1940 in Thomasville, Alabama, the 13th child of Lonnie and Onnie Gildersleeve. She attended the Good Shephard Lutheran School in Thomasville for elementary school, and then for middle school she attended Alabama Lutheran Academy and College in Selma, Alabama.

She moved from Alabama at the age of 14 to San Pedro, California in 1954, where she attended San Pedro High School. Where she met the love of her life Doyle (Mickey) Bilberry there, and then in April 1956 they married at Union Baptist Church in San Pedro, CA. From their union, they had two children: Michael Doyle, and Roslyn Denise. The Family eventually settled in Los Angeles spending time on Towne Ave and 120th. Once the children were of school age, Barbara entered the workforce at Mattel in Hawthorne as an assembler and by the time she left, she was promoted to supervisor. She then left to work at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital in Downey as a Certified Nurse's Assistant. Barbara attended East LA and Long Beach City Colleges. In 1966 the family Relocated to Compton, CA. In 1967 she then finally settled in at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a Fingerprint Interpreter, starting her 30 years of civil service. While working at the Sheriff's Department, she also worked part time for a nursing registry. In 1978, she opened her home and heart and became a foster parent. Barbara and Mickey opened up their home to numerous family and friends along their journeys in life, They never met a stranger. Barbara had an intense passion for fashion which eventually led to her opening up her own clothing boutique called Sophisticated One in the Carson Mall. She ran the store for 3 to 4 years. Barbara After her retirement in 1977, she kept busy as a caregiver, a volunteer at various churches in the area, and at the Long Beach Police Department. In her free time, Barbara enjoyed travelling with her kids and grandkids, and loved following politics on CNN and a looooong phone call. Barbara was a loving person with a strong work ethic that will live on through her son Michael and daughters Roslyn and Cheryl (who preceded her in death), her 6 foster sons, Oliver Jones, Adrian, Antonio, Alfred, Andre, and Andrew Young. Her legacy will continue through her grandchildren, Takii Clements, Jar'Reese Billberry, Joshua Billberry, DeAngelo, Angelica, Dominique, Mario, Marcus, Shian, Markel, Lariyan, Ohleer, Naljee, Joseph, Brianna, Tamia, and Xerces. She was also a loving Great Grandmother to Helen Ann, Issac, Jovan, Jordan, Jaeden, Autumn, and Judah. Three Godsons, Charlie Parker, Jonathan Nevels, and Johnny Hewing; Two Goddaughters, Stephanie Moore, and Tashonda Anthony. She also leaves behind to celebrate her life sisters Wilhelmina Johnson of San Pedro, CA, and Patricia Haynes of Bixby Knolls, CA; her brothers, Clenzo Gildersleeve of Mobile, AL, and Richard Gildersleeve of Los Angeles, CA, and a host of sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, and devoted friends.

Mickey preceded her in death in 2002.