Billie Michelle Ballew-Roach

Billie Michelle Ballew-Roach passed away Friday, November 7, 2025 after suffering a stroke. She was born in Knoxville, TN on February 9, 1947 to William "B.K." Ballew and Dorothy Mae Reynolds-Ballew. At an early age Billie, received Jesus Christ as her savior, was Baptized and became a member of the Body of Christ. She grew up in North Knoxville in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. She attended and graduated from Fulton High School, class of 1965, where she had many friends and met her future husband of 59 years, William A. "Jack" Roach. After marrying in 1966 they welcomed two children, a son, Matthew in 1968 and a daughter, Heather, in 1972. Billie and her family lived in Hamilton and Hamblen counties before settling in Cleveland, TN where she lived the rest of her life. When her kids were young, she was a full-time mother and homemaker. After her children got older, Billie worked as a dental assistant and then returned to school at Chattanooga State where she graduated from the Physical Therapists assistant program. For several years after she worked helping many people recover from accidents and illnesses. She particularly enjoyed and her life was enriched by the relationships developed during her time in the home health field. Billie and numerous of her patients considered each other family and loved each other. Billie participated in a number of medical/dental mission trips to rural Mexico where she served as a dental assistant. On one memorable trip so many people needed care that she personally administered anesthesia and extracted more than sixty teeth. Over the course of her life, she had many hobbies that included: sewing, doll collecting, dish collecting, shopping, gardening, trading antique furniture and playing the accordion. Billie had a wonderful sense of humor and fun. She shared jokes, songs and silliness with those she liked and/or loved. The people that she loved best were loved unconditionally. She was capable of understanding the difficulties that those close to her faced with wisdom and compassion. A very good judge of character she chose her friends well and returned loyalty with loyalty. She was a hopeful person who frequently imagined how things could be. Billie also loved animals. Over the years she had many dogs and cats that were well-loved. She had a horse for some years and even a parrot. She loved the beach. Her children and grandchildren were the greatest joy of her life. Billie is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Michael Ballew and her daughter, Heather Roach-Cook. She is survived and will be missed by her husband, her sister Patti (Chuck) Johnson, her son Matt Roach, her grandson Benjamin Cook, her granddaughter Michaela "Mia" Roach and her niece and nephew Sarah Bradsher and Jacob Bradsher. The family will receive friends on Friday, November 21st at Rose Mortuary on Broadway in Knoxville from 5:30 until 7:30 pm also on Saturday, November 22nd at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services North Ocoee St. chapel, in Cleveland from 3:00 until 5:00 pm. Graveside services will be held at 3pm Monday November 24th at the Greenwood Cemetery, Tazewell Pike, Knoxville TN. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in Billie's memory to the Audubon Society. www.audubonsociety.org.