Birth Date: 10/02/1945
Deceased Date: 01/16/2019
Smithfield – Billy Ray Best, 73, of Smithfield passed away at the SECU Hospice House on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 following an extended period of cardiac disease. Billy was born October 2, 1945 to the late Hosea Best and Flonnie Johnson Best in Benson, NC. He graduated from Benson High School. He was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard in September 1971. His 38 year career was with the North Carolina Department of Human Resources as Supervisor of Environmental Services at Dorthea Dix Hospital in Raleigh, NC.
Billy served as a deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Smithfield, where he served on the Property and Grounds committee for more than thirty years. Billy was a gentle man with a quiet demeanor and with a loving and caring heart. Billy was most proud of his son, Rodney, and seeing him grow into the man he is today.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, the love of his life who was very devoted to him during the 51 years of their marriage; a son, Rodney; two brothers, Jim Best of Four Oaks and wife Carolyn, Rayvon Best of Benson and wife Becky; two nephews and three nieces; two great nephews and six great nieces.
A celebration of life service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 20, 2019 in First Presbyterian Church in Smithfield. Burial will follow in White Memorial Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening at First Presbyterian Church in Smithfield.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to First Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1159, Smithfield, NC 27577, or, American Heart Association, P.O. Box 744806, Atlanta, GA 30374-4806.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
