Billy Jo Gentry

Billy Jo Gentry, 99, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2026, at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Funeral services for Billy Jo will be held on Friday, August 7, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport, Louisiana. Burial will follow at Forest Park West Cemetery, 4000 Meriwether Rd. in Shreveport. A visitation will be held on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the service. Officiating the service will be Pastor Howard Hall.

Billy Jo was born on February 28, 1927, in Wattensaw, Arkansas, to Bill and Etta Corpier. She was the seventh of nine children. As a child, Billy Jo gave her life to Jesus Christ and attended Bisco Baptist Church.

At the age of 17, Billy Jo married Charles Gentry. They shared 53 years of marriage before his passing in 1997. Billy Jo and Charles first moved to Alabama and were later transferred to Hondo, Texas. After World War II ended, they moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1945, where they raised their three children, Charlie Jo Gentry, Sam Gentry, and Debra "Debbie" Brown. They also raised Billy Jo's niece, Linda Porter, as their own.

Billy Jo devoted much of her life to caring for others. She operated a daycare during the 1950s and later worked as a cashier at Shreveport Regional Airport for 10 years.

Her Christian faith remained at the center of her life. Billy Jo was a member of Morningside Baptist Church, where she coached a girls' softball team, worked in the church nursery, and prepared meals for church members. She was also a member of New Beginning in McAlester, Oklahoma. While living in Blanchard, Louisiana, she attended Crossroads Assembly of God, and while living in Beebe, Arkansas, she attended First Baptist Church. Although she was unable to attend church during the final years of her life, she continued telling everyone she met about Jesus.

Billy Jo and Charles enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in their trailer. She also treasured camping trips with her sisters and their husbands. These adventures were among the happiest times of her life.

After Charles passed away, Billy Jo lived next door to her niece, Linda Porter, and they shared many happy years together. Billy Jo later moved to Beebe, Arkansas, to be near her sisters, Ollie Mae Simmons and Carolyn Harden. The three sisters made many friends and shared wonderful times until advancing age required them to live apart.

On October 28, 2021, Billy Jo was seriously injured when her blouse caught fire while she was cooking. After leaving the hospital, she moved in with her daughter, Debbie and son-in-law, George Brown, on January 19, 2022. They lovingly cared for her until her passing.

Billy Jo is survived by her sister, Carolyn Harden; her son, Charlie Jo Gentry and his wife, Janet; her son, Sam Gentry and his wife, Myra; her daughter, Debra "Debbie" Brown and her husband, George; and her niece, Linda Porter, whom Billy Jo and Charles raised.

Her grandchildren include Charlie and Janet's children, Janine, Jonathan, and Miranda; Sam and Myra's daughter, Laura; and Debbie and George's sons, Christopher "Chris," James "Mike," and Stephen.

Her great-grandchildren include Janine and her husband, Rudy's children, Caitline and Christopher; Jonathan's son, Huston; Miranda's children, Dominque and Jasmine; Chris and his wife, Shannon's son, Landon; and Mike and his wife, Jennifer's children, Madison and her husband, Hunter, and Aaron. Billy Jo was also blessed with a great-great-granddaughter, Selah, the daughter of Jasmine.

Billy Jo's 99 years were marked by an enduring faith in Jesus Christ, devotion to family, hard work, resilience, friendship, and adventure. Her family will forever cherish the memories she created, the love she shared across generations, and the faithful example she set throughout her long and meaningful life.