Billie Catherine Dame Briggs

Billie Catherine Bates was born on June 16, 1932, to Emma Clio Bush Bates and William Thomas Bates of Old Hickory, TN. Billie grew up in Old Hickory with her brother, Thomas Eugene.

Billie attended George Peabody College where she began her lifelong nursing career. After graduating, she moved to Panama City, FL where she shared her love of caring for others with future nurses. It was there she met Willard Keith Dame, and they were married in 1959 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN.

The family moved to Valdosta, GA in 1963, where Billie became Director of Nursing at South Georgia Medical Center. She continued her love of nursing by teaching LPN classes and traveling worldwide recruiting nurses from the Philippines, China, and Hawaii.

While living in Valdosta, Billie bought her first car, a 1966 baby blue Ford Fairlane convertible, driving the car right off the showroom floor. What fun times the family had driving around the South with that convertible top down!

In 1975, with her two daughters Donna and Joanna, Billie moved to Columbia, TN where she was appointed Director of Nursing at Maury Regional Hospital. At Maury Regional, Billie touched many lives and made numerous lifelong friends in the medical profession. She was an inspiring mentor to so many nurses who loved her dearly.

Upon retiring as Director of Nursing, Billie’s love of nursing and caring for others remained deep within her soul; that passion drove her to home health care, where she continued nursing and helping others for years.

In 1978, she reconnected with her childhood sweetheart, Sammie Lee Briggs, and they married a year later.

On their life’s next adventure, Billie and Sam genuinely appreciated the outdoors. So, they bought a RV and hit the road, spending winters in Florida and summers traveling the East coast from Florida to Maine. They also liked boating on the Tennessee and Alabama lakes. She and Sam both thoroughly enjoyed their travels and forged many lasting friendships along the way.

Billie’s interests included boating, camping, collecting antique glassware, Swedish weaving, shelling on the beach and looking for shark teeth. Her more recent interests were treasure hunting and antiquing, mastering Sudoku and birding.

Billie is survived by her two daughters, Donna Dame Summar (Keith) and Joanna Dame; grandchildren, James Marshall Summar and William Alexander Dame. She is also survived by stepdaughters, Becky Gurley (Michael) and Renee Stanley (Tim); step-grandchildren Kayla Catron (Wayne), Holly Mainstruck, Jamie Briggs (Sabrina) and Kaleb Briggs and step-great grandchildren Lucas and Deacon, Noah and Liam, and Kaylee. Billie’s dog, Mandy, was a constant companion, source of entertainment and unconditional love; she will spend the rest of her life with Donna and Keith.

In addition to Billie’s parents and her brother, Billie was preceded in death by her first husband, Willard Keith Dame, and her second husband, Sammie Lee Briggs.

Billie was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was thoughtful, funny and a vibrant force. An inspiration to many and a friend to all, Billie will be missed but remembered by those who knew her.

The family expresses sincere gratitude to the Caris Healthcare staff for their dedication and professional ability to help our mother remain in her own home surrounded by love with her dog Mandy by her side, until her final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 28, 3-5pm at Graymere Country Club, 2100 Country Club Lane, Columbia, TN.