louis dewitt billingsley
1921-1990
Life Story
Early Life and Family
Louis Dewitt Billingsley (also recorded in some records as Lewis) was born on September 3, 1921, in Newton, Mississippi, to Dewitt Billingsley and Zena Mae Hopkins Billingsley. He grew up in Newton County during the difficult years of the Great Depression, the eldest child in a large and hardworking family.
The 1930 United States Census records Louis living in Beat 4 of Newton County, where he attended school and was already noted as able to read and write at the age of ten. His siblings included Albert, Bernice, Dan Richard, and Mae Nell, with additional children joining the family in later years.
By 1940, eighteen-year-old Louis was still living with his family in Newton. Though he had completed only two years of formal schooling, he had already begun contributing to the household economy. At the time of his draft registration in February 1942, Louis worked for T. L. Harris in Newton, Mississippi. His draft card described him as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, with a dark complexion, a young man coming of age just as the United States was entering World War II.
Military Service and World War II
Louis’s life took a decisive turn on September 23, 1942, when he enlisted in the United States Navy.
His enlistment occurred during a major wave of wartime recruitment. A Mississippi newspaper reported that 155 men were enlisted through the Navy recruiting station in Jackson during a single week, with Louis Billingsley listed among those recruits.
Louis served throughout the height of World War II, contributing to the naval war effort during a critical period in American history. After the war ended, he received an initial discharge on November 16, 1945.
Rather than leaving military life behind, Louis chose to continue his service. He re-enlisted in April 1946, making the Navy his long-term career. Over the course of more than thirteen years of active duty, he advanced within the ranks and served as a Steward, a role that was common for African American sailors during the segregated era of the U.S. Navy.
Family and Post-War Life
Following the war, Louis began building a family of his own.
On December 7, 1946, he married Corrine Lewis in Delmar, Delaware. The couple eventually settled in Wattsville, Virginia, located in Accomack County near the Atlantic coast.
The 1950 United States Census records Louis at 28 years old, living with his wife Corrine and their young daughter Hilda. At the time, he remained on active duty in the Navy, stationed in the Atlantic region.
Louis completed his naval career with an official discharge on March 31, 1956, concluding more than a decade of service to his country.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Louis relocated to Asheville, North Carolina, where he spent his retirement in Buncombe County amid the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains.
On January 6, 1990, Louis Dewitt Billingsley passed away at the age of 68 in a nursing facility in Asheville.
Though his final years were spent in North Carolina, his connection to Mississippi remained strong. Records indicate that his remains were sent out of state for burial, suggesting that he was returned to the region of his birth and family roots.
Louis Billingsley’s life reflects the story of many African American men of his generation—born in the rural South, serving their country during World War II, and building lives that stretched far beyond the communities where they began.
Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Louis Dewitt Billingsley |
| Birth | September 3, 1921 – Newton, Mississippi |
| Parents | Dewitt Billingsley & Zena Mae Hopkins |
| Military Service | United States Navy (1942–1956) |
| Rank/Role | Steward |
| Spouse | Corrine Lewis |
| Final Residence | Asheville, North Carolina |
| Death | January 6, 1990 (Age 68) |
Resting Place
Newton, Mississippi
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1930 – 1950 Federal Censuses
- The Newton Record, Dewitt Billingsley Obituary, Wed, Dec 22, 1965 ·Page 12
- U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
- Delaware, U.S., Marriage Records, 1750-1954
- North Carolina, U.S., Death Indexes, 1908-2004
- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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