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StumbleLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Local activist was a beautiful human being
Monday, Aug. 30, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Regarding a Friday story on lasvegassun.com, “Human remains in home identified as those of Billie Jean James”:
Billie Jean James was a loving, caring, kindhearted, gorgeous and spirited woman. She was flamboyant and immaculate in her appearance. She was a wife, mother, friend, activist, writer, teacher and dog lover.
Her heart was open and extended to all who knew her. If someone needed something, she immediately set out to provide it. From the top of her spiked, beautifully coiffed hair to her makeup and apparel, she stole the show when she walked into a room.
She passionately loved her husband and family. Her philanthropic efforts for our community and nation were many. She loved the Earth.
Her travels were numerous and varied. She knew the importance of saving beautiful and culturally important places.
On the Tuesday of the week she went missing, she spoke in the Clark County Commission chambers in support of Red Rock Canyon. She was filmed outside waving a Red Rock sign and singing, “Red Rock Rocks.” On Wednesday of that week, she was there to support the preservation of Gold Butte. The week before that there was a photo of her in the Las Vegas Review-Journal showing her holding a sign supporting Red Rock during a meeting on the Rhodes development for Blue Diamond.
More than 40 years ago she was part of the group that first worked to preserve our wonderful Red Rock. Her efforts in support of preservation and education were countless.
She will be sorely missed by many whose lives she so richly enhanced. This is the Billie Jean we will be remembering.
The writer, a longtime preservation activist, is outreach coordinator for Friends of Gold Butte.
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I met Billie Jean at 1st Friday's & mentioned an ongoing Thursday Peace Vigil to her.The following Thursday,she came to the vigil & had continued going every week. She will always be the friendliest woman I will ever meet. I hope to meet the 7 year old neighbor because Billie always wanted to bring her to the Peace Vigil to meet my daughters but we hadn't done that yet. To all of Billie's family & friends: My family's thoughts & prayers go out to you. Ray, April, Heaven, & Kenna Medlin.
Thank you Terri for such a beautiful response. I've known Billie Jean for 17 years and I'll never forget the day I met her. She wore her signature flower summer dress with hiking boots and carried a parasol for shade. Little did I know that day that I was meeting a woman who would change my life and be my friend, teacher, motivator, hiking pal, poet and therapist. I am a better person today because of Billie Jean. Every time I saw her at an event my heart lept for joy. My favorite memory is the time we both went on a backpack to Escalante's Coyote Gulch and camped under the huge rock overhand. We sang songs all night which echoed through the canyon. She loved to sing. She infused everyone around her with song, joy and happiness. My heart goes out to her family, Bill and MaKenna.
We had our 50 year high school reunion last weekend (Just after Billie Jean was identified). Since she was a member of our class, we added her to our memorial page, and mentioned to those at the function that she had passed away. Our sympathies to her family.