Loss of a Loved Light

This is NOT my forte nor will I make it such. However, God and destiny dictate that I acknowledge the passing of my life and business partner, Leon Billups, Jr.
RIP-
This page is dedicated to our short married life together. As a husband,friend,lover and partner, it will be impossible to replace the space he held in my heart.
Though my life continues, the void I feel will grow easier to bear but will never be filled. For now, prayers of friends and family have sustained and held me. Truly, you find out WHO your friends are in times like these. Either your real friends (since this is a relationship website) WILL step up to the plate or they will offer insincere platitudes that mean NOTHING! To those who have chosen not to contact me in anyway, please- keep it that way. I do not want to deal with anyone who made a choice not to support me and mine in our time of need. For the folks who came, sat, brought (and bought) food and made sure I was not sitting around feeling sorry for myself I say "Thanks. I could not have done it without you"From the bottom of my heart I thank all of you who sent cards, emails, letters and called. "THANK YOU ALL!"

Lenny's transition is made easier because we did agree on the focus of the website and what we wanted to and did accomplish. The fact that we did not do the events we wished to do (lack of men) does sadden me. Our business is still growing and I do plan on continuing with the events, but not before next spring. We will see how our database grows and how my heart heals. Lenny's page is his ode to me. I re-read it just the other day to remind myself that I have had what many people search for and never find. I KNOW that I have been loved and have loved completely. I have no regrets.

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Dr.Martin Luther King,Jr.

What I did think about was how funny life really is. We re-united and were married within 6 weeks. Too short most people said. But the flip side is - it was a longer period of time we were together-married. God will work it out. I know I was supposed to be with Lenny, for we both forced each other to grow and move outside our comfort zones. We grew together and apart during different phases of our marriage. He was the best "new husband" ever. Flowers weekly, ballons, breakfast in bed (and I will truly miss those). I am NOT a morning person. Just the thought of waking up to his wonderful breakfast, still makes me smile. But like most folks, Lenny did not realize that marriage is WORK! DAILY WORK. Neither of us liked this aspect but doing the things you DON'T like will force your spiritual growth. It is the things that challenge us that make us MORE!

I had the blessed opportunity to spend Christmas in my second home (my late and beloved Grandpa's home) Bermuda. I did not realize how MUCH I needed to regroup and spend some quality time with myself and God. The perfect beauty of the sky and sea and smell and sounds of the ocean helped heal me in ways I still can FEEL in my soul.

In closing, the business and dating events WILL continue. I have been blessed with new opportunities to connect with real men in a place where they feel safe and I will explore that to bring them into the dating events. For now, suffice it to say that I think this year will be much better than last and there will be at least 2 dating events on the horizon.

Thanks for taking the time to read Lenny's obituary. I appreciate it and I know he does too!
Be Blessed.
Michelle Smith Billups

Obituary

Leon Billups,Jr. was called home early Thursday morning September 8, 2005, at Northwest Hospital. He was the son of the late Leon and Cora Billups.

Leon was known as Lenny, and affectionately referred to as "Blue Magic" by close family members and friends. He was born October 15, 1954, in Baltimore, Maryland. Lenny was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools system. He later became a member of the United States Army Reserve, and upon completion of his military service, Lenny worked for several years at Bethlehem Steel. He subsequently worked at various companies during his lifetime.

"Blue Magic" received his nickname from his family because he was always neatly dressed. It did not matter where you saw him-he was well-groomed and dapper. There were times he would go to the annual South Baltimore Reunion, and while most people were dressed in casual clothing, Lenny would show up in a three-piece suit in the August heat, and never broke a sweat.

At a family function, Lenny was reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Michelle Smith. Even after thirty-three years, sparks still flew between the two. Lenny proposed, and married Michelle within six weeks. The two celebrated their three-year anniversary August 16, 2005.

There was another side of Lenny that was in constant turmoil. He suffered quietly, never sharing the pain he carried inside with anyone. What most of his friends and loved ones saw was his bright eyes and beautiful smile. No matter what he was privately going through, he always enjoyed a good laugh with family and friends. God knows he will be sorely missed.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Michelle; a son, Michael; two daughters, Stacey and Brittany; one stepson, Arnim; one stepdaughter, Lindsey; one granddaughter, Capri; five brothers, Sonny Miller, Rodney, Gary, Darryl, and Troy; one stepbrother, Skip; three sisters, Lynette Hopkins, Sherry, and Michell; a mother-in-law, Pamela Davis; and a host of aunts, uncles, other relatives, and friends.