Carla Leigh Billie

Carla Leigh Billie of Prattville died on October 27, 2018 following a well-fought battle with cancer. She is survived by her beloved mother, rockstar caregiver, and dearest friend Susan Billie and was welcomed into heaven by her father Chester Billie.  She is also survived by her aunt, Rebecca Billie Bryars, and her cousins Rachel Mitchell, Rebecca Lancaster, Daniel Chatwood, Laura Allen, Matthew Mastin, Will Mastin, and Beth Thompson.  She also leaves behind three sisters of the heart Liz Coleman, Shara Haden, and JoElla McIntosh and a host of other family and friends.  All of the above suddenly find a gaping void in their lives in the areas of wise counsel, exhortations to boldness, frank fashion advice, and quality college football analysis.  She also leaves Kiki, the latest in a long line of animals to “find” Carla and whose lives were immensely better for it.  In addition to her father, Carla was predeceased by her uncle Robert Barger, and grandparents Marion Kent Barger, Joseph Edwin Barger, Gaynell Nelson Billie, and Chester Earl Billie, Sr.  Carla was born in Fairhope, Alabama, and though she left Fairhope at 13, Fairhope never left her heart. She returned often to enjoy its art and vitality and to visit friends and family.  Perhaps nurtured by her early immersion in the vibrant color and natural beauty of the Bay, Carla was a talented artist of remarkable creativity.  She honed these gifts at the other home of her heart, Auburn University where she graduated in 1994 with a Bachelors of Arts in Interiors and Housing.   As her father’s constant football companion, Carla early on developed a love for Auburn, its spirit, and its family as well as an appreciation for a good, stifling defense.  Carla then combined her artistic sensibilities with her keen fashion sense in a career as Visuals Manager at Parisian and Belk in Montgomery and Birmingham.  She delighted in the friendships she made there.  Though her career was cut short by an ongoing struggle with Crohn’s Disease, Carla continued living each day with all the vigor she could muster, loving her friends and family with all her strength, and taking comfort in the beauty of God’s creation and a firm knowledge of God’s goodness and provision.  She believed life was a gift, and when it came time to give it back, she did so with dignity and courage surrounded by her family and friends. Services will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2018 with visitation prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. Graveside service will follow at Memory Gardens of Fairhope.  Family and friends are welcome to gather at the home of Rebecca Billie Bryars following the graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America.                        ARRANGMENTS BYWOLFE-BAYVIEWFUNERAL HOMES& CREMATORY, INC.19698 GREENO RDFAIRHOPE, AL 36532(251) 990-7775www.wolfefuneralhomes.com