Billie L. Cherry

Billie L. Cherry, age 101 passed away peacefully on February 1,2026. She was a longtime resident of San Lorenzo, California, and spent the last year and a half of her life in Danville, California, at the same board and care home as her beloved husband, Lee.

Billie was born in Montgomery, Alabama, to William E. Jordan and Mavis Wallace Jordan, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, her older brother Paul, and her husband, Lee W. Cherry, who passed away on January 13, 2026. She is survived by her younger brother, Glen Jordan, and his wife Betty.

She is also survived by her daughters, Diane Montesano and her husband Eric and Debra Montesano and her husband, Ken; her grandchildren, Kristina Montesano; Vincent Montesano and his wife Danielle, and their children, Mackenzie and Lorenzo; Samantha Navarro and her husband, Alberto, and their children, Rosalind and Ramona; and Niko and his wife Eva.

Billie worked as a telephone operator for 30 years, beginning her career in Memphis, Tennessee. After marrying Lee and moving to California, she continued her work in Hayward and later in Oakland, where she finished her career in the fraud department. Even after retirement, she remained active for many years with the Telephone Pioneers, an organization of phone company employees and retirees.

Billie was a creative and talented woman who loved sewing and crafts. When she was younger, she made many of her own clothes as well as outfits for her daughters. Later, she enjoyed sewing dresses for her granddaughters. Her creative interests included painting, embroidery and needlepoint.

She also loved taking trips to Reno to play the slot machines with her longtime friend, Bess Rocha, whom she met while working at the phone company. Billie and Lee shared a love of travel and enjoyed many road trips together across the county, visiting friends and family. She was also active with Lee in his Hudson club and enjoyed the friendships they made there.

Though she spent most of her life in California, Billie never lost her Southern charm or her accent. She loved cooking Southern dishes and sharing them with friends and family, often introducing others to the flavors and traditions she grew up with.

A memorial service to honor both Billie and her husband Lee will be held on June 12 at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette, California.