Willamae "Billie Mae" Sheilds Derridinger

Willamae “Billie Mae” Derridinger joined the Lord peacefully in her sleep in the morning hours of Wednesday, March 11, 2026. She was 88 years old born on April 13, 1937 to Ethel B Shields and Edward M Shields.

The youngest of two girls, Billie Mae spent her childhood in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania where her only playmates were the boys in her neighborhood and the animals her father would bring home from his work in the livestock business. In high school, she was a majorette in the band and homecoming queen. She left Carnegie Mellon University one semester from graduation to marry her high-school sweetheart Paul who was leaving for Officer training in the United States Navy. She was off on quite an adventure with Paul; one that would take her around the world; one that would have been impossible without her strength, determination, and adaptability. Not bad for a sweet, little girl from a small town in Pennsylvania. A gentle and soft woman whose most valuable possessions were memories made and handmade gifts, Billie Mae never knew a stranger. All were welcome at her dinner table. Joy could be found in every circumstance, no matter where life (or Paul) took her. With her, there was always time to stop and smell the roses, literally and figuratively but especially literally. Billie Mae’s legacy is one of selflessness, togetherness, and appreciation, but above all else, it was one of love.

Billie Mae’s love of travel (and Paul’s job) took them to places like Hong Kong where Billie Mae was one of two English speakers in the entire village, Hawaii where Paul made it back from sea just in time to see the birth of their first child Mark, Little Rock where they had their second child Cristi, Kenya where they spent time with the Maasai tribe, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Vatican in Rome where they received a blessing from the Pope, and so much more. Her love of travel extended to her family with trips to Disney World and Captiva Island in Florida with her kids and grandkids, to Egypt with her sister Bonnie, and to Oregon for horseback riding with her daughter and granddaughters.

Amidst all of her travels, Billie Mae fostered a love of creating. Through her love of photography, she strove to capture and remember every beautiful view, every happy memory, and every milestone in the volumes upon volumes of meticulously organized family photo albums. A rotating stock of framed photos of the wildlife she encountered were always lovingly displayed in every space in her home. Through her love of sewing, she made designer clothes for her daughter Cristi, Christmas stockings for her kids and grandkids, Halloween costumes for her

four grandkids, and dance recital outfits and special occasion dresses for her three granddaughters. She even dipped her toe in the world of bridal fashion when she made bridesmaids dresses for Cristi’s friends and Cristi’s wedding dress, a gift which will be forever cherished by Cristi. Through her love of gardening, she raised beautiful roses and delicious vegetables, including a special row of vegetables for the bunnies in her backyard.

However, no love compared to her greatest passions: her family and her church. Billie Mae relentlessly and joyfully supported Paul and his ambitions, no matter where it took them. From their regularly scheduled quality time spent together after Paul got off work to their long drives down to Florida for the winter, Billie Mae was always by his side, as he was by hers. When it came to her kids and grandkids, no activity was too big or too small to enjoy. No conversation was too trivial to engage in. No matter what, Billie Mae was always there- every football game, every horse show, every baseball game, every dance recital, every chance she could get to visit her granddaughters at work. She and Paul never missed a chance to wish their kids and grandkids a happy birthday or to celebrate a graduation. Her home was always ready to take anyone in who needed a good meal and a cozy bed including Paul’s work associates, Mark and Cristi’s high school friends, friends from church, and her found-family. Billie Mae loved to donate her talents of sewing and gardening to her church in the form of handmade healing blankets and personally curated Easter gardens year after year.

Billie Mae was many things- loving wife, dutiful daughter, baby sister, supportive mother, doting grandmother, dear friend, precious daughter of God. Anyone who met Billie Mae was greeted with a smile and warmth. She was a light who always made others feel comfortable, seen, and

heard. With a quiet but unrelenting strength, Billie Mae modeled what it meant to love. She never asked for much, but the world would not have been enough of a gift to thank her for the blessing she was and continues to be through her legacy. Mom, Nannie, Billie Mae, we love you. We will never forget you. Thank you for never letting us forget that we are cherished. While we are devastated to see you go, we are thankful that God has gotten an angel back. Billie Mae is preceded in heaven by her loving husband of 64 years, Paul. She is survived by two children, Mark (Lisa) and Cristi (Bill) Fowle; four grandchildren Katie (Caleb) Fore, Allison (Peter) Lee, Summer, and Matthew; two great-grandchildren, Henry and Levi; and many other extended family and friends.

A visitation will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions (235 Juneau Drive Middletown, KY 40243) from 11:00am to 2:00pm with a graveside service to follow at Cave Hill Cemetery at 3:00.

Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Billie Mae to Notre Dame Catholic Church, 217 N US 1, Ft Pierce, FL 34950.

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