Albert Cicero Billingsley

Albert Cicero Billingsley passed away Sunday, July 30, 2023, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Hillcrest in Waco, Texas at age 94. 

Visitation is at the Garden of Memories Chapel at 520 South 1st Street in Lufkin at 1 PM, Saturday, August 5, 2023.

The Funeral service will follow at the same location at 2 PM on Saturday, August 5, 2023, with Shawn Buser and Gary Hillyard officiating.  Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Lufkin.

Albert was born August 17, 1928, to Samuel Dewey Billingsley and Annie Elizabeth Bond Billingsley in the Redland community north of Lufkin. He grew up in that area and graduated from Lufkin High School, class of 1946.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin College in 1949, his Bachelor of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth in 1959, and his Master of Education at Stephen F. Austin State University in 1970. 

Albert married Patricia Denise Bentley on May 31, 1969, in Anahuac where they were both teachers at Anahuac Middle School.  He taught middle school math in Anahuac until his retirement.  He was a Baptist minister at Denman Avenue Baptist Church in Lufkin, TX and preached for a time in Ohio in the early 1960’s.  While teaching in Anahuac, he occasionally preached as a lay minister to small congregations in the Anahuac area. He was a long-time member of Anahuac First Baptist Church, serving in the choir and ministering to those in need.  He was a skillful prayer warrior and participated in the FBC prayer ministry.  All who knew him were blessed. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, reading God’s Word, and telling the good news of salvation in Christ Jesus to all he met.  Albert and Denise went on many mission trips to Mexico, Cuba, Costa Rico, and Africa.

Albert was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Annie Billingsley; daughter, Sherri Horton; wife, Denise Billingsley; as well as his brother, Richard Billingsley, and two sisters, Ruth Conner and LaDell Bynum.

He is survived by his sister, Ruby Lee Roberts of Katy; brother-in-law Philippe (Myriam) Bentley of Dieulefit, France; son John (Peggy) Billingsley of Groesbeck; and son-in-law Joe (Debra) Horton of Diboll.  He is also survived by grandchildren Laura (Matthew) Dawley, Andrew Billingsley, Bryce Billingsley, Sarah (Jacob) Johnson, Crystal (Lonnie) Kilgore, Kimberly McWhirter, Alan (Jasmine) Horton and Letha (Bradley) Newton and by great-grandchildren Charleton, Faith, baby girl due January 2024, Sadie, Kaitlyn, Ross, Tucker, baby girl (Grace Abigail) due September 2023, Seth, Taylor, and Lucas; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.   Honorary descendants include Jackie (Ronnie) Hunt; her children, Sandra (Eduardo) Amaya, Albert (Heidi) Lott, and Jennifer (Wayne) Scott; and grandchildren, Tyler, Madison, Jacob, Savanah, Lindsay, and Logan.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial donation may consider the First Baptist Church of Anahuac (405 Magnolia Ave S, Anahuac, TX 77514) or the Groesbeck church of Christ (PO Box 512, Groesbeck, TX 76642). Floral and plant gifts may be sent to Groesbeck Funeral Home in Groesbeck, TX (Henderson’s Flower Shop in Groesbeck is well-recommended).