Billy Younger

McLemoresville - William Birtle (Billy) Younger, age 83, ended his last valiant battle on Friday, April 17, 2020.  Billy was born February 1, 1937 to the late Elvis and Lula Traywick Younger. 

Mr. Younger was devoted to serving his church, community and his close-knit family. For almost 50 years, he operated Younger’s Grocery & Market, which his parents opened at the end of World War II.  Billy joined his mother in running the store when his father died in 1957. The grocery store evolved over the years offering everything from feed and hardware to fresh butchered meats and prepared foods, which Billy sometimes delivered to remote or housebound customers in his jeep.

While the business, which served as the hub of the community, required long hours, Billy spent just as many hours on his other interests and pursuits. He was plumber, builder, heavy equipment operator and first-class “piddler” as he called his time in his beloved workshop.

Mr. Younger was a Deacon of McLemoresville Baptist Church, where he was also a Sunday School teacher for 54 years.  Over the years, he was elected to serve on the McLemoresville School Board, the Carroll County School Board and the West Carroll School District Board.

In 1963, he was a member of the founding brigade of the McLemoresville Volunteer Fire Department.  He served as fire chief from 1988-2012 as the department added new fire trucks (one of which he helped design) and a new fire station.

Mr. Younger was instrumental in developing a public water system for the community.  When the national E911 system was implemented in Carroll County he was appointed to the first board and helped establish the system.  He was one of the original First Responders in the county.

In 2011, he was recognized as Carroll Countian of the Year.  He was a tireless fundraiser for the causes he loved, selling thousands of hamburgers from the Burger Wagon and acting as amateur auctioneer for PTA sales.

Billy married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Burke in 1958.  She was at his side in all his endeavors and his tireless companion until the end. They had four daughters, Sharon Younger, Kayla Taylor, Lana Suite (Lex) and Laura Guidi (John); seven grandchildren, Kassie (Anthony) Coffee, Kara Taylor, Danielle Suite, Carson (Kara) Suite, Ally Suite, Cole (Hannah) Lessenberry and Logan Lessenberry; and three great-grandchildren ― McKinely, Jackson and Kylie.

The family loved that Billy could make anything, rig anything or fix anything, which included everything from go-carts to broken hearts.  He was a man of quiet faith and few words, unless he was telling a long story to the folks gathered around as he worked at his butcher block or in his workshop.

Mr. Younger died after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s, during which, he survived a rare case of tetanus (lock jaw) contracted while helping making repairs to the Carroll County Museum.

The family thanks his caregivers in the Memory Unit at Forest Cove Senior Living Community and his hospice nurse, Melissa Kirk, who was an angel of mercy connecting the family during the coronavirus pandemic.

A graveside service was 2 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2020.  Memorials can be sent to the McLemoresville Fire Department (PO Box 38), McLemoresville Baptist Church (Box 208) or the McLemoresville Cemetery Association (Box 44).