Willie Mae “Billie” Drumright, 95, of Knoxville, formerly of McMinnville, died Tuesday, Aug. 6. 
She graduated from MTSU, where she was voted Homecoming Queen her senior year. She was an Army wife and teacher for 33 years. She taught in Nashville, Ft. Richardson Alaska, Olney Springs, Md., Ft. Monroe, Virginia, Izmir, Turkey, Colorado Springs, Colo., Okinawa, Japan, McMinnville, and Woodlawn.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Col. William T. Drumright, U.S. Army retired; brothers, Ray, Virgle and Thomas Denton; sisters, Lila Rose Denton, Mabel Ballentine and Lou Ella Spence. Billie is survived by her son, Bill Drumright Jr. of Knoxville; daughter and son-in-law, Milla and Mickey Bilbrey of Park City, Utah; grandsons, Chris (Regina) Bilbrey of Bozeman, Montana, Kenny (Karen) Drumright and Bill Drumright; great-grandchildren, Brittany, Quinton, Zack, Blakely Drumright, all of Colonial Heights, Va.; loving nieces and nephews in Tennessee and Virginia; also, “Upper Jane” and “Lower Jane.”
Oma, as she was called by family and friends, lived a wonderful, rich life filled with adventure. She was a woman of deep faith and started each morning with a devotional and her Bible. When asked how she endured having her husband and son in Vietnam at the same time, her response was “I just pray.” She greeted each person with a smile and always welcomed the hugs she received.
Family and friends will gather at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, for graveside services at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery located at 5901 Lyons View, Knoxville, TN  37919.  A celebration of Billie’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1001 Ebenezer Road, Knoxville, TN  37923. The Rev. Ann Robins will officiate.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes, RARE Program, 700 Williams Ferry Road, Lenoir City, TN  37771. 
Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike (www.clickfh.com) is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 16, 2013