Obituary

Billy Leroy Gill

August 20, 1936 - November 12, 2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Billy Leroy Gill on November 12, 2024. A beloved father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, Billy was 88 years old and a longtime resident of Bogalusa, Louisiana.

Born on August 20, 1936 in Kentwood Louisiana, Billy was involved in many activities as a student and graduated from Bogalusa High School at the top of his class. Shortly after graduating, he joined the Bogalusa Police Department, rising through the ranks and then transferring to the Washington Parish Sheriff's office. He eventually rose to the rank of Chief of Police and served as acting Sheriff of Washington Parish. He collaborated closely with both the DEA and the FBI, and attended a number of advanced training courses and served on various task forces.

After his retirement from the police force, Billy dedicated himself to his church community, serving as a deacon at Lee's Creek Baptist Church. Soon after, he became a Southern Baptist minister, providing ministry to any in need, serving as pastor at Lee's Creek Baptist Church and True Light Baptist Church.

In his spare time, Billy was an avid outdoorsman who loved being on the river, hunting, fishing, building boats, and growing a sometimes extensive garden. He loved taking his family out on the river to swim and camp and just enjoy the beauty of Louisiana's nature. Billy did his best to empty the river of fish; someone once asked him how many fish he thought he'd caught over his lifetime, and he responded, "Five or six hundred... tons."

Billy is survived by his two children with wife Margaret Gill, Becky Bruce (Magnus) and William Gill (Macie), as well as his brother Larry Gill. Billy also leaves behind three grandchildren, William Michael Gill, Baylor James Gill, and Eleanor Kate Gill.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Bennett Gill, his parents, Addo Gill and Willie Mae Hathorne, his brothers Jack and Ollie Gill, and sisters Julie and Dorothy. He was also preceded in death by his son, Billy Leroy Gill, Jr, and two daughters, Suzette and Glenda.

Visitation will be held at Brown McGehee funeral home in Bogalusa from 10am-1pm Saturday, November 16, with funeral service beginning at 1pm on the same day, followed by internment at Lee's Creek Baptist Church.