Hallie Earley Billups was a former teacher in the School District of Philadelphia.
She died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at VNA Hospice of uterine cancer. She was 96.
She was born Oct. 9, 1916, to the late Joseph and Hallye Palmer Earle. She was the third eldest of five children.
Billups was educated at West Philadelphia High School. She raised her kids and worked multiple jobs including as a factory worker in her husband’s business, hairdresser, babysitter, crossing guard, landlord and reading aide.
She enrolled in college at the age of 50 and earned her bachelor’s in early childhood education from Temple University and her master’s degree from Chestnut Hill Academy when she was 57. She retired from the school district at 66, after 16 years of teaching.
After retiring, she volunteered at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for more than 10 years. She was given a “Volunteer of the Year” award for her selfless dedication.
Billups also volunteered with Services for the Blind and the Gift Center at Kearsley Retirement Community, where she lived and taught sit-down aerobics to the residents.
She participated in Senior Olympics where she won medals. Billups was a member of Haddington Senior Center, Senior Partners of African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, where she’s been an active member for decades and a former member of Acolyte Mothers Sponsors, Usher Board and St. Thomas Actors Guild. She was a former member of the Wellness and Fitness Center at Lombard Senior Center.
Billups was preceded in death by her husband, John Billups Jr.; sisters, Charlotte Baylor, Alda Logan, Mary Ellis; brother, Jodie Earley and son, Christopher.
She survived by four of her children, sister-in-law Ethel Wright; daughters-in-law Barbara, Telecia and Valencia; ten grandchildren (Jay R., Michelle, David, Jamal, Tonisia, Anthony, Lisa, Christopher, Lauren and Jonathan); 14 great-grandchildren; nieces Sheila Merritt and Sondra Logan Burgh; nephews George (Herb) Logan, David Baylor and Milton Wright; cousins David and Lynne Poindexter and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 6361 Lancaster Ave.
Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
