zena mae hopkins billingsley
1904-1994
Life Story
Zena Mae Hopkins Billingsley was a woman whose life was deeply rooted in the soil and community of Newton County, Mississippi. She was born on December 11, 1903 (though census records occasionally vary slightly regarding the exact year), the daughter of Major Hopkins, Jr. and Lou Ann McNeer Hopkins.
Zena grew up in a busy household in Beat 5 of Newton County, surrounded by siblings and extended family. Among her brothers were Philips, Bama, and Albert, and she also had a younger sister named Effie. Like many children growing up in rural Mississippi during the early twentieth century, Zena balanced family responsibilities with schooling. Census records indicate that she attended school and eventually completed the fifth grade, providing her with a basic but important education.
Family and Early Adulthood
By 1920, a teenage Zena—recorded in the census as “Jena”—was still living with her parents on Hero Road, where her father worked as a farmer. The Hopkins household remained a close-knit rural family, typical of the agricultural communities that defined Newton County during this period.
Around 1922, Zena began building a family of her own and eventually formed a relationship with Dewitt Billingsley. While the 1930 census suggests that Zena married Dewitt around the age of 28, records indicate that their family had already begun to grow earlier.
Together, Zena Mae Hopkins and Dewitt Billingsley became the parents of nine children:
- Lewis Dewitt Billingsley (1922 – 1990)
- Albert Billingsley (1922-1997)
- Bernice Billingsley (1925-1998)
- Dan Richard Billingsley (1927-1968)
- Mae Nell Billingsley Crawford (1929 – 2002)
- Luzena Billingsley Tillman (1930-1969)
- Judith Billingsley Freeman (1932-2008)
- Lela Bama (born 1935)
- Allen Walter (born 1944)
Through these children, Zena’s lineage expanded across generations and regions of the United States.
Strength in Independence
The 1930s and 1940s brought significant challenges and changes to the Billingsley household. By the time of the 1940 census, Zena was listed as the head of her household and identified as a widow, although later records clarify that she and Dewitt had separated rather than being widowed.
While Dewitt reportedly pursued opportunities and travels outside Mississippi, Zena remained in Newton County, becoming the central pillar of her family.
To support her children, she worked as a maid in private homes, performing domestic labor that was common for many Black women of the era. The 1940 census records her remarkable dedication: she worked 36 hours per week for 52 weeks a year, earning an annual income of $208.
By 1950, Zena had moved to East Sub Drive in Newton, where she continued working in house cleaning to provide for her younger children and grandchildren, including Ann, Linda, and Brenda, who were part of the extended household.
A Legacy of Faith and Community
Beyond her tireless work, Zena was known for her deep faith and commitment to her church community. She was a long-time and faithful member of Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Newton, where she remained active for many years.
Even into her nineties, Zena continued to be a familiar and respected figure in the community, residing on Forest Avenue and maintaining connections with family, neighbors, and church members.
Passing and Legacy
Zena Mae Hopkins Billingsley passed away on June 14, 1994, at the age of 90.
Her life came full circle when she was laid to rest in Union Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Lawrence, Mississippi, alongside her husband. The cemetery remains a resting place for generations of families connected to the Billingsley and Hopkins lineages of Newton County.
Zena left behind a far-reaching legacy through her children and descendants, many of whom eventually moved beyond Mississippi to places such as California, Texas, and Louisiana. Yet wherever life carried them, they carried with them the strength, determination, and resilience of the woman who raised them.
Her life stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the women who held families together in the rural South during the twentieth century.
Resting Place
Union Chapel United Methodist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1910 Federal Census
- 1920 Federal Census
- 1930 Federal Census
- 1940 Federal Census
- 1950 Federal Census
- The Newton Record, Zena Mae Hopkins Obituary, Wed, Jun 22, 1994 ·Page 10
- The Newton Record, Dewitt Billingsley Obituary, Wed, Dec 22, 1965 ·Page 12
- U.S., Phone and Address Directories, 1993-2002
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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