Billie Jewell Walker

Billie Jewell Walker (Mack) was born June 29, 1940 to Namon Mack and Arlethia Maloy in Lee County, Texas. She was the 4th of 13 children in the Mack family, and was the eldest daughter. As a child growing up in Lee County, she spent a lot of her childhood doing farm work with the family. She attended and graduated from Rockdale High School, where she played basketball (which she would always tell you she excelled at!)

In the early part of the 1960s, she moved to Denver, Colorado where she lived with her oldest brother, Bobby Lee, and worked odd jobs to support herself. On January 17, 1964, she gave birth to her eldest son, Josh Dwayne Mack, followed by Lisa Bernice Mack on November 4, 1965. She was briefly married to Benjamin Kendrick, and gave birth to their son, Benjamin Aundra Kendrick on September 21, 1968.

Billie worked several jobs to support her family before finally finding a career as a certified nurse's aide in 1976. She worked in several nursing homes around Denver, including a stint at St. Joseph's Hospital, throughout her career until her retirement. Raising 3 kids as a single mom was not always easy for her, but she always managed to make sure they were provided for. As a result of being part of such a large family growing up, she was very family-oriented and loved spending time with all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all brought her so much joy! She cared about family so much that she temporarily moved to Houston to spend time as a caretaker for her brother, Earl Gene Mack, in Houston and Rockdale for a few years before returning to Denver to be with her family here. She constantly stressed to all of her children how important family was. Even as her health began to fail her, she always managed to keep in regular contact with her family, whether they were here in Denver, Texas, Florida, or Arizona.

Billie was also very strong in spirit. So strong in fact, that she beat cancer, not once, but twice! Cancer did not stand a chance! Because of her strong spirit, "Miss Billie Mack" as we sometimes called her, could be quite a handful at times! But it was this inner strength that helped her persevere when times were tough. Thankfully, this strength has been passed down to each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And we are all the better for it! Billie was also a very spiritual woman and church was a big part of her life and she attended on a regular basis. She was most recently a member of Heritage Christian Center in Aurora, CO. Her faith in God was without question.

Billie was preceded in death by her parents, Namon and Arlethia Mack, her sister Velma Mack, and her brothers Ronnie Mack, Bobby Lee (Big Bob) Mack, Wilfred Mack, and Earl Gene Mack.

Billie leaves behind her beloved children to cherish her memory, Josh Mack and wife, Kimberly, Lisa Mack, and Benjamin Kendrick along with her grandchildren; Tanica Lee and her husband, Ricky, Mahogany Hopkins, Dominique Mack and his wife, Kiara, and Dionne Hopkins. She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren, Samira, Ricky Jr., and Isaiah Lee, along with Shamari Hopikins, J.J. and Jeremiah Pitts, Dominique and Damarius Mack. Darius and Daynah Kendrick. Sisters; Celestine Roland (Lakewood), Louise Clinkscale (Denver), Mabel Washington (Aurora), and Margie Swift. Brothers; Tommy Mack (Rockdale), Melvin Mack, and George Mack. And a host of nieces and nephews.