Billie Cole Mackey
October 19, 1935 ~ March 20, 2018
Ms. Billie Moore Mackey, age 82, former commissioner and mayor of Carthage passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM Friday at Carthage United Methodist Church conducted by the Reverend Jim Bolyard. Burial will follow at Cross Hill cemetery. Following the service there will be a reception in the Sinclair House next door to the church.
A native of Chesterfield, SC she was a daughter of the late Rufus and Gladys Cole Moore. Billie graduated from Columbia College with a B.S. degree and taught school in Richland County for 12 years. In 1972 she moved to Carthage where she joined her mother as co-owner of The Billie-Fran Shoppe (ladies apparel business) until 1992.
Billie became active in politics paving the way for women in local government. She was the first female town commissioner in Carthage where she served five terms. She then served four terms as the first female mayor of Carthage. While serving as mayor she did many good things for the town including, but not limited to helping establish the annual Buggy Festival, and organized the Carthage bicentennial celebration in 1996 which carried on for a full two years. She was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Merchants Association, the Carthage Appearance Committee, first female member of the Rotary Club of Carthage, as well as many other civic and local community groups.
In 1997 she assisted in the founding of the Dispute Settlement Center of Moore County, Inc. and served as it’s executive director until her retirement.
Billie loved Carthage and was proud of all she was able to accomplish with the help of others, but above all she was most proud of the fact that she raised three boys as a single mother while working and serving our community.
She was preceded in death by her sister Frances Sullivan.
She is survived by her three sons Bill Mackey and wife Lisa of Carthage, Clay Mackey of Florida, Chris Mackey and wife Rhonda of Sanford; niece Harriet Riley of Siler City; grandchildren Cole, Tristin, Ian, Lily, Wyatt Mackey, Jake Verrett and John Garrison.
The family will receive friends at Fry & Prickett Funeral Home from 6:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday.
Memorials may be made to the Carthage Appearance Committee, â„… Town of Carthage, 4396 US 15-501 Hwy, Carthage, NC 28327.
Online condolences may be made at PinesFunerals.com.
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Billie was a special lady.- She always was a good friend to me and was always the same person every time I would see her.- Deepest sympathy to the family.