James Edward Bills

James Edward Bills, age 87, resident of Sheddan Drive, passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2017,at NHC-Columbia.

He was born July 4, 1930, one of seven sons, to the late Audie and Irene (Taylor) Bills in Lewisburg, Tennessee. He attended Belfast School and graduated from Marshall County High School in the Class of 1950. After spending time in the United States Air Force, he returned to Marshall County and attended Columbia Business College. In 1955 he married Shirley Walls of Lynnville, Tennessee, mother of his son, Jeffrey Todd Bills. This marriage ended with her death in 1992. He later married Lillian Smith Voss who survives. In 1962 he and his wife moved to Joliet, Illinois where he was employed at Caterpillar Corporation. In 1974 he left Caterpillar and began his career in automobile sales, a profession he loved. He enjoyed the negotiating and made many lifetime friends.

Mr. Bills was a lifetime member of the Church of Christ. At an early age, he joined Hardin Chapel
Church of Christ in Lewisburg and was a founding member of Cherry Hill Church of Christ in New
Lennox, Illinois. He has been a member of Graymere Church of Christ since relocating to Columbia.

Survivors include his wife, Lillian Voss Bills; son, Jeffrey Todd Bills (Nancy) of Atlanta, Georgia;
granddaughter, Mary Dabney Bills of Atlanta, Georgia; step-daughter, Patricia (Ronald) Erland of
Fairview, Tennessee; step-grandsons, Ronnie and Michael Erland of Fairview, Tennessee; brothers, Tom Bills (June) and Benny Bills (Doris) of Gallatin, sisters-in- law, Elaine Bills, Dot Bills Zimmerlee, Juanita Bills and Josephine Bills, and many nieces and nephews. Along with his parents he is preceded in death by brothers Raymond and Billy of Lewisburg and Joe and Charlie of Murfreesboro.

Active pallbearers will include Edwin Bills, Kenneth Bills, Kevin Bills, Ron Becker, Fred Porter and Billy Martin. Honorary pallbearers will include Cal Rhinehammer, Joe Huff, Buddy Bradford, Cleve Walls, Bobby Lovell, Dwaine Hickman, David Hay, Buddy Voss, Tommy Voss, Pat Ryan, David Ryan, Randy Stanfill, Dr. Rand Hayes, Dr. Jim Richardson and Dr. Janice Vinson. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to Maury Regional EMS for their excellent care and kindness.

Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at Williams Funeral Home in
Columbia with Ronnie Kline, officiating. The family will visit with friends from 10:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
at the funeral home. The funeral service will follow immediately after the visitation at 12 Noon.
Entombment will be at Woodlawn-Roesch- Patton Funeral Home and Memorial Park at 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at 478 Craighead Street,
Suite 200, Nashville, TN 37204 or to the charity of your choice.