Billie Dove Gore

Billie Dove Gore was born on August 25, 1930, in Awendaw, South Carolina, the youngest of five girls, to Christopher Columbus Gore and Mineola Vereen Gore.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William Edward Gore, Jr., her beloved Billy; four sisters and their husbands: Eunice Blumberg (Joe), Juanita Newell (Les), Rosemary DeGeorge (Carmine), Betty Schulin (Bern), her infant granddaughter Margaret Nicole Gore, her niece Dawn Linthicum (Jack), and her nephew Steve Schulin (Kathy).

Billie Dove worked for Darden Jewelers after graduating from Conway High School. She was chosen as Miss Conway in 1950 but instead of competing in the Miss South Carolina Pageant, she married the love of her life, her beloved Billy. They shared forty-four devoted years together until his unexpected death in 1994. He would have been so proud of how she continued his legacy.

Billie Dove was gracious, refined, soft-spoken, and gentle. She had exquisite taste and made a beautiful presence with her fashionable clothing, lovely white hair, and delightful hats.

Her family was her primary focus and she worried over and took care of them until the end. She spent a lot of time and went to great lengths to instill important values and character traits in her children. Her home was filled with love, warmth, and kindness.

Billie Dove loved spending time in the kitchen preparing delicious meals for her family. She frequently made food for sick neighbors and Sunday School friends. Her grandchildren particularly requested her fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, and homemade biscuits. This delighted her and she always made sure she had something special to eat when she knew they were coming for a visit.

 Her church was an important part of her life and she regularly attended First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. She loved her Adult Workers Sunday School class and rarely missed a Sunday until she became too sick to attend. She enjoyed class dinners, group gatherings, and fish frys in friends’ homes.

Billie Dove loved flowers and gardening. She was a lifetime member of the Driftwood Garden Club. These women were dear friends and like family to her. She fed the birds daily and delighted in finding a new species at her feeders. She cherished her garden where she and Billy lovingly created a sanctuary for her family and friends.

Through the years, she deeply loved all animals and lovingly raised many puppies and kittens with her children.

 Billie Dove was a warm and loving daughter, sister, Moma, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, and friend. She will be dearly missed by all who were blessed to have known her.

Survivors include her children, Amanda Earnhardt (Fred) of Wampee, South Carolina, Vicki Lewis (Preston) of Summerville, South Carolina, and William E. Gore III (Donna) of Wampee, South Carolina.

Grandchildren include Allison Payne (Derrick) of Goose Creek, South Carolina, Dr. Charles Earnhardt of Orlando, Florida, Audrey Gore (Daniel) of Greenville, South Carolina, Ashley Lower (Todd) of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, Jennifer Lewis of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and Miranda Dove Gore of Greenville, South Carolina.

Great-grandchildren include Sloan and Lincoln Payne and Caroline Lower.

Also surviving, are her niece, Jane Goodrich (Mike), nephews, Charles Newell (Julie), and Gar Schulin (Kathryn), great-niece Julia Linthicum, great-nephews George Schulin, Frank Schulin, Jason AlFord (Erin), and his children, Jennifer and Christopher AlFord, and many cousins.

The family is grateful for the nurturing care given by Julie Newell while Billie Dove was at the Myrtle Beach Manor.

Funeral Service is scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2022, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church of North Myrtle Beach. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Graveside service will be held at Southern Palms Memorial Gardens immediately following the service.

Memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald Charities of Charleston, 81 Gadsden Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, or The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, 409 Bay Street, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582.

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