Billie Jean Harber, of Fairlawn, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. Born June 17, 1924, Billie had just celebrated a century of life.
She was born in Ashland, Kentucky, and was preceded in death by her father, John Aaron Clarke; mother, Mary Ruth Wagner Clarke; and her loving husband, John Bays Harber. She is survived by her children, Julia Lynn Propst, Dana Jean Hanks, Samuel Clarke Harber and John David Harber, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren who loved her very much.
Billie’s early years were spent traveling with her parents throughout the Midwest during the Great Depression, as her father worked a number of jobs. The Clarkes finally found a permanent home in Pennington Gap, Va., where Billie’s father was the town’s chief of police. As a senior in high school, Billie entered and won the Miss Lee County competition, and went on to compete in the Miss Virginia Pageant. Shortly after attending Berea College, Billie and Pennington Gap local, John Harber, a student at the University of Tennessee, began dating. Upon his graduation, they were married, and began a life-long love affair, which lasted over 60 years.
Early in their marriage Billie pursued her goal of opening her own beauty salon, and then continued on to create beautiful art – drawings, paintings, and handcrafts.
Above all, Billie loved the Lord Jesus and lived her life with the goal of pleasing Him. Billie will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and neighbors, whom she dearly loved.
A graveside service was held Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, at Highland Memory Gardens in Dublin.
The Harber family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home & Crematory in Radford.
