In honor of Women’s History Month, the Billy Graham Library would like to recognize some of the women who supported Billy Graham’s ministry over the years. This week, we’ll take a look at Billie Barrows.

Billie Barrows was born Wilma Irene Newell in 1925 in Macomb, Ill. Billie was the daughter of a minister and grew to love the hymns and songs of the Christian faith.  She would go on to become an accomplished musician and received a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Music. She married her college sweetheart, Cliff Barrows, the Crusade choir director and board member of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Billie first met Billy Graham in 1945 while on her honeymoon in Asheville. She and Cliff would join him later to lead music for Mr. Graham’s Youth for Christ tours across Great Britain when another music leader changed his mind about traveling. Cliff and Billie would eventually join Mr. Graham’s Crusade team with Billie serving as the pianist and organist. She would travel with the organization for the next five years around the U.S., England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. In 1950, she decided to take a break from traveling to focus on raising her five children. Billie passed away from cancer in 1994 and is laid to rest in the Memorial Prayer Garden at the Billy Graham Library.