Billie Jean (Prater) Eberhardt went home to be with her ancestors on May 13, 2023, after 68 years in this earthly realm.
Billie was born on February 16, 1955, in Columbus, Ohio. She was raised in a vibrant community on the city’s east side under the loving guidance of her mother, Marcella Prater, in a nurturing neighborhood of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her infectious laugh and bold spirit filled the hallways of Champion Junior High School and East High School, where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and voted Miss Band and Best Personality.
Following her graduation from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, Billie had a lengthy career in major corporations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Nationwide Insurance, and Southwest Airlines in Columbus and Raleigh, NC. She turned her passion for shopping into Shopping Smarts, an organization she conceived of to raise awareness of stretching grocery, household, and personal budgets. She was preparing for a second career in early childhood education before being diagnosed with a lengthy illness.
Billie loved the beach, traveling, reading, baking, good food, crossword puzzles, singing along with her favorite R&B and gospel music, and praising God, as she learned to do through her family and her lifelong membership at St. Paul AME Church.
Billie was greeted in Glory by her mother, Marcella Parrish Prater, her aunts Lizzie, Willard, Algie, Effie, and Merrilynn, her Uncle JB, her grandmother Emily, and her cousins who preceded her in passing.
Left to love her on this side are her sons, Clyde Eberhardt IV of Columbus and Quentin Emil (Jenna) Eberhardt of Knoxville, TN; her grandson Marcellus John Eberhardt of Lewis Center, OH; a soon-to-be-born granddaughter in Knoxville; her longtime “girlies,” and a host of family members, in-laws, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations of any amount to the American Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) in memory of Billie Eberhardt.
A memorial celebration will be held on Saturday May 20, 2023 11:00am, at the St. Paul AME Church 639 East Long St. Columbus Ohio 43215. The family will receive guest at 10:00am until the start of the service. For full obituary, to send condolence and to view the live stream, visit thechapelofpeace.com
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Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
May you draw comfort from God as he help you to cope with the heavyweight of your loss. Thinking of you all.
My deepest condolences to the family. May God give you peace, strength and comfort today and always.
Billie is so very much loved by her dear friends ‘girlies’. This meant she was a very dear friend to them when a part of this life. Her love and presence will be deeply missed.
I am sure that my Sunday school girlfriend and beyond will enjoy all the peace and happiness that the heavens provide.
Teri Page
Detroit Michigan
I am in shock. Literally just seeing this notice about Billie. I wanted to find and call her to see how she has been doing. Billie and I had not talked in several years. Somehow, time got away. But she has been on my mind for several months, and I decided to try to find her. I almost fell ut of my chair when I saw this. I was there when she brought home both Sons after birth. We worked together at Blue Cross and Blue Shield several years ago. We remained friends after our time there. I really wanted to find and catch up with her. So long My Friend. I will always remember the good times that you, Carol Bliss, and myself had while at BCBS.