Billie Faye (Barney) Thomas was born December 6, 1935 to William Barney and Emma Sojourner in Terry, MS. She was adopted at a very early age and raised by her Uncle James and Aunt Myra McNeil. Billie peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home on May 8, 2022 from Magnolia Senior Care. Billie accepted Christ at an early age as member of Fairfield Baptist Church. She later moved with her family to Jackson, MS and became a faithful member at Greater Northside M. B. Church under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Brown. She served for several years as a Correspondence Secretary for the Gospel Chorus Choir, and a member of the Junior Matrons Auxiliary. In her later years she moved her membership to Word and Worship Church, under the leadership of Bishop Jeffrey Stallworth where she remained a faithful supporter.

Billie was known for her extraordinary domestic gifts that included cooking, sewing, and child rearing. She was a well-loved maternal figure in the lives of many in her community. After raising her own family, she became a loving caretaker for the elderly. Billie was preceded in death by her parents, William Barney and Emma Sojourner; Adoptive parents, James and Myra McNeil; two sons, Charles LaRue Thomas and Robert Earl Thomas; two brothers, Kenneth Lee McNeil, and Allen McNeil; two sisters, Catherine McGee, and Gloria Wordlaw She leaves to cherish her precious memories, one daughter LaShandra (Charles) Thomas Ross; four sons, Dwayne (Vera) Thomas, Anthony (Teresa) Thomas, Eric (LaKita) Thomas, Kenneth (Katrina) Thomas; four sisters, Ruby Hicks, Myra Gay, Patricia Kendricks, and Margaret (Ronnie) Jackson, and one brother; James McNeil Jr, and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 15, 2022 at 11:00 a.m., Word and Worship Church, 6286 Hanging Moss Road, Jackson, MS 39206 with burial in Autumn Woods Cemetery, 4000 W. Northside Drive, Jackson, MS 39209.