Billye Rigdon Tomlinson

Billye Rigdon Tomlinson, beloved mother and Nana Bill, of Fernandina Beach, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026, at Baptist Hospital of Jacksonville with all of her family at bedside.

She was born in Jacksonville, Fl on September 28, 1935, the daughter of James Collier and Beulah Smith Rigdon, one of 10 children. Billye graduated from Clinch County High school and attended Martha Berry College in Rome, Ga. In August of 1958 she married Herman Tomlinson, the love of her life, after dating for 5 years. They lived and raised their three children, Kim, Kerry and Kendra in Homerville, Ga.

Billye owned a baking business for many years, decorating beautiful wedding and birthday cakes. Billye was blessed with many talents to create and decorate. For many years she enjoyed sewing, baking, crafting, travel and art. As the owner of Billye’s Baskets & Bows, she sold beautiful handmade crafts at various festivals and fairs and loved sharing her crafts with others. Additionally, she worked as a beauty consultant for BeautiControl Cosmetics, coordinating home parties and conducting seminars on make-up and color coordination to clubs and college organizations.

She worked as Sales Coordinator for Cypress Sales, Inc., a business founded by her husband, until their retirement in 2000. After 44 years of marriage, he preceded her in death in 2004.

The most important thing in her life, and what she loved most, was her family. Spending time with her children and adored grandchildren and being involved in their lives brought her the most joy.

Along with her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Enslee Rigdon, Glen Rigdon, William “Bill” Rigdon, Robert Rigdon, and James “Jimmy” Rigdon, as well as three sisters, Ivis Lindsay, Deanne Hoffman and Bette Chester.

She is survived by her adoring family including two daughters, Kim (Buddy) Holwell, of Fernandina Beach, Kendra (Allen) Kennedy, of Valdosta, Ga. and one son Kerry (Shannon) Tomlinson of Lakeland, Ga., four grandchildren, Ashley (Jess) Hornsby, Thomasville, Ga., Bridges Holwell, Fernandina Beach, FL., Bryce Holwell, Atlanta, Ga., Taylor Holwell, Fernandina Beach, Fl and step-granddaughter Paxton (Lee) Douglas, Homerville, Ga. She also leaves behind two loving great-grandchildren Chance and Cal Hornsby, Thomasville, Ga., and her youngest sister, Sandra Cleveland, of Peyton, CO, along with many loved nieces and nephews.

Following her wishes of cremation, a private family burial will take place at a later date. Oxley-Heard Funeral Home and Music Funeral Services of Valdosta are handling burial arrangements.