Billie Hill: librarian

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — She's been there since day one . . . as a teacher, a secretary, and even a student. 

Now Billie Hill gladly serves as librarian of the Christian school her husband founded in Cookeville in 1975 — Tennessee Bible College. It's a part-time position she has volunteered for since 2006, after having retired from the Tennessee Department of Human Services a couple years earlier.

And this Livingston, Tenn., native has kept busy, working up to three days a week shelving books and converting the TBC library from the Dewey decimal classification system to Library of Congress.

"I had always in times past thought I would like to be a librarian, so I've enjoyed it," she said.

Billie also takes pride in having accomplished a first for the college.

"I am the first and only woman so far [as of 2008] who has gotten a B.A. degree from Tennessee Bible College," said Billie, who earned the distinction in 1991. "I wish more women would pursue this degree. You don't have to be a man to graduate from TBC."

Billie Hill
Librarian

That's because not all graduates become preachers.

As a woman in the church, Billie never expected to take a stand behind the pulpit. But she has put her Bible knowledge to use as a children's and women's Bible class teacher for her congregation, Northeast Church of Christ in Cookeville. She currently serves as supervisor of the primary department Bible school and teaches grades 3 and 4.

A degree from TBC isn't the only parchment this mother of three and grandmother of five has under her belt. She is also a 1960 graduate of David Lipscomb College, having earned a bachelor's degree in home economics and secondary education. Husband Malcolm holds a Lipscomb degree as well.

The couple married in Livingston in 1956 and later moved to Atlanta, Ga., and Florence, Ala., before returning to Cookeville in 1973. Two years later, TBC was born.

"I helped Malcolm get the school started back in 1975," Billie said. "He was preaching at Sycamore Church of Christ, and we decided to start a Bible training school. He started teaching the night classes for men, and I taught the classes for women."

Three years later, classes moved to the new Northeast Church of Christ building. Then Billie became TBC's secretary.

"I began running the school office because we didn't have the money then to hire a secretary," Billie said. "So I voluntarily did that a couple years to get the school started."

After that came her state job with DHS — employment she took on in the early 1980s to "put the kids through college," she said. She retired in the early 2000s to tend to her daughter, who was having medical problems. Then TBC came calling once again.

"When Tammi got to where she didn't need me, I started helping at Tennessee Bible College," Billie said. "They needed a librarian, and Kerry Duke, the dean at TBC, conned me into coming over and working! So I've been volunteering my time."

What's the best part about working at TBC?

"I just enjoy all the people who are here," Billie said. "All of them are Christians, and I enjoy the students."

When she's not busy shelving books, Billie said enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

"My grandchildren are my hobby right now!"  she said.

And when she's not with family, she likes to find other ways to make a difference — whether it be raising funds for the college, posting TBC flyers around town or whipping up dishes for church gatherings.

She said, "That's basically what my life is — I've just been a helper!"