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Jan. 7, 1940 – Dec. 1, 2014

NATCHEZ — A celebration of life for Billie Ann Lee Auld, 73, who died Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, in Natchez, surrounded by family, will be at 1 p.m. today at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mrs. Auld was born Jan. 7, 1940, in Bude, the daughter of John E. and Anna Watson Lee.

She was raised withsix siblings and a large extended family of cousins with whom she shared a number of memories and much love.

It was Dec. 15, 1957, that she became a beloved member of the Auld family. She wed Clyde David Auld, the son of the late J.W. “Tip” Auld and Maxine Jones Auld. Together they had one son, John W. Auld.

Billie was the ultimate mother to her son — his biggest cheerleader at his many youth sporting events and his best friend and chief supporter throughout her life. From the birth of one son, Billie’s family grew extensively and now includes John’s wife, Kimberly Salter Auld, their children, John W. “Trey” Auld III, Tyler Zane Auld, Tiffany Auld Short and Tiffany’s mother, Jamee Schilling, all of Shreveport, La., area.

Granddaughter Tiffany and husband, Travis, had blessed Billie Ann with four precious great-grandsons, Parker, Spencer, Levi and new baby, Noah Wesley.

These grandchildren and great-grandchildren were truly blessed to have had such a loving, supportive matriarch like their “Mimi.” She was a major advocate of her grandchildren’s volunteer work and instilled the joys of having a servant’s heart leading by her example.

She was active in her church and her community as a long time member of the Natchez Garden Club and Belwood Country Club where she served in a number of capacities, even hitting her hole-in-one in 1989.

Billie Ann was a true Southern belle, a superb hostess, always with an open door who relished in entertaining friends and family throughout her life with her fabulous dishes and humorous stories.

She will truly be missed by all those who had the privilege of loving her, including a number of friends she made during her 40-plus years career in the medical field in Natchez and Shreveport.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings, John “Bubba” Lee, Hilton “Pete” Lee and Bessie Lee Ezell.

Survivors also include one sister, Jessie Terrell and husband, Pete; one brother, Freddie Lee and wife, Sheila; one brother-in-law, Charlie Ezell; and one sister-in-law, Doris Lee. Billie was also “the coolest” aunt to her nieces and nephews who will also miss her greatly.

Honoring Billie Ann as pallbearers will be Bradley Salter, “Buddy” Hill, Clutch Aldridge, Bill Herrington, Malcolm Whitehead, Kevin Thornhill, Kurt Seeman and Ken Beasley.

Honorary pallbearers include Bobby Meason, Frank Campisi, grandsons, Trey and Tyler, and nephews, Evan and Charlie Junker.

The family wishes to extend deepest gratitude to Billie Ann’s best friends, Mrs. Francis Meason and ultimate caregivers, her niece, Sherry Terrell, Zelmon Dunmore, Johnnie Mae Johnson and niece, Valerie Aldridge.

Memorials may be made to the Natchez Children’s Home, Educational Center for Autism or Pool of Siloam Medical Ministry in Shreveport.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.