The Reverend Billie Starr Brightwell died unexpectedly on November 3, 2015. She was born on December 14, 1954 to W.R. and Sadie Wootton Brightwell, of Pamplin.

She was a graduate of Appomattox County High School, Appomattox, and Longwood University, Farmville. She received an MS in Education from Longwood University, an MA in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond, and a Master’s of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, SC.

Billie began her career as a teacher at Appomattox County High School and later served as a Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church, Winchester, KY and Hunter Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY. She served as Director of the Video Education Ministry Program at PSCE in Richmond and taught part-time at Erskine. She served as Pastor at Owings Presbyterian Church in Gray Court, SC and then as a Supply Pastor at Petersen Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC. Following South Carolina, she served as Pastor of West Nottingham Presbyterian Church in Colora, MD. In December 2012, she became an honorably retired member of the New Castle Presbytery, Synod of the Mid-Atlantic. Billie relocated to Lynchburg, VA, in 2013, and provided pulpit supply at several Presbyterian churches in the Appomattox and Charlotte County area.

She was predeceased by her parents, sister Mary Brightwell Ligon, brother Jack Brightwell, and very dear friend, Dr. Mary Ruth Marshall. She is survived by her aunts,  Rebecca W. Edwards and Dr. Jane P. Wootton of Richmond, Frances W. Wootton of Burkeville, and an uncle, Dr. Percy Wootton of Richmond. She is also survived by nephews, Samuel Brightwell Ligon of Chapel Hill, NC and Jerry W. Ligon of Lake Forest, IL. She is also survived by numerous cousins and many friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 21, at 11 a.m. at Beale Memorial Presbyterian Church, 298 Church St., Pamplin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lynchburg Humane Society, Lynchburg, Beale Memorial Presbyterian Church, or the Presbytery of the Peaks, 1022 Floyd St. Suite A, Lynchburg, VA 24501.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Robinson Funeral Home, Appomattox.