Florence May Billman, GW#149

Florence was born on 19 June 1892 in Reading, Pa., to George E. and Clara (Fritz) Billman.  On 20 August 1892 Florence was baptized in St Paul’s Memorial United Church of Christ (it was probably called “Reformed Church” in those days).  Florence’s father was a day laborer which generally meant a lower income than a skilled worker.  The family continued to live in Reading.  From a Union Gospel Press publication, an article that featured Florence stated that she was 15 years old when the Lord saved her.  In the 1910 census, 17 year old Florence is working as a looper in a hosiery mill.  In 1918, Florence’s mother died of pneumonia, a complication of influenza that plagued the world in that year.  Apparently, this broke up the family somewhat.  In the 1920 census we find Florence living with her older and married sister and her family.  Florence was 28 years old that year and continued to work as a looper in a hosiery mill.  Two years later she arrived in Cleveland, Ohio, from Reading.  She stayed with the Gospel Workers for the rest of her life.  She worked in the book binding department for many years and then did general office work.  The 1950 census reports her occupation as cleaning woman in a missionary home.  The 1940 census reports that Florence had six years of formal education.  Florence died on 26 April 1984 and is buried in the Brooklyn Heights Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio, with other Gospel Workers.