In Memory

Billie Jane Barnes (Slaton) - Class Of 1959

Billie Jane Barnes (Slaton)

Billie Jane Barnes Slaton, born December 15 1941 to Mary Collison and James William Barnes, passed away at St Joseph Manor in Portland Maine November 12, 2014. She graduated from Rockville High School in 1959, attended William Woods College and graduated from Miami University. She had been a member of the Rockville Presbyterian Church, Tri Kappa and D.A.R. Survivors are a son Jeff of Maine, a daughter Jeni Williams and a grandson Zack of New Hampshire. A sister Mary Catherine Overpeck. 1 niece and nephew. She was employed by the Department of Veterans Administration as a psychologist. She started a clothes closet in Dade County Florida for homeless veterans. She oversaw that project with volunteers for several years. She then transferred to Sanford Maine where there was a greater population of homeless veterans. Each week she had 2 semis full of government surplus clothing and hygiene products delivered to a ten thousand square foot warehouse where she and 50 volunteers passed out the supplies. Two days a week they gave away to veterans and their families. No one in need was ever turned down. Rolling Thunder Motorcycle riders brought toys for all the children each Christmas. The Christmas give away was for hundreds of Maine Veterans. She also worked to find the veterans better living conditions. She was awarded numerous times from the Department of Veterans Administration and from the Governor of Maine. Cremation was chosen. 



 
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11/13/14 07:45 AM #1    

Jerry Hill (1964)

A life well lived. She taught me much when we were young.


11/13/14 08:14 AM #2    

Frank (Sandy) Endres (1959)

It seems that time passed so slowly when we were in High School and now it races by us as we lose our classmates.  Billy was special to me and I regret that we could not have spent more time together in all of those years gone by.  Remember the Cougars, Youth Center, Bamomo's Drugstore, and Dirty Dancing.  Billy was always there always happy and smiling.  Will miss her dearly.

Sandy Endres

 

 

 


12/06/14 06:01 PM #3    

Max Higgs (1968)

Veterans give thanks for the late Billie Slaton.

The founder of the Military Surplus for Homeless Veterans and Veterans in Need, recently passed away. Local veterans honored her during a gathering on Sunday. Her creation, Military Surplus for Homeless Veterans and Veterans in need, has helped many over the years. As many pause this week to give thanks, local veterans are mourning the recent passing of Billie Jane Barnes Slaton, for whom they are thankful. Slaton passed away on Nov. 12 at the age of 73. Before moving to Maine, Slaton a retired psychologist for the Department of Veterans Affairs, started a clothes closet in Dade County Florida for homeless veterans. When she moved to Sanford she encountered an even greater need to help homeless veterans. So, each week, she had two semi trailers full of government surplus clothing and hygiene products delivered to a warehouse where she and a team of volunteers distributed the supplied. The operation was originally run out of a mill on River Street, later it moved to Jagger Mill Road and is presently at 11 Pioneer Avenue. At the Nov. 23 gathering at the Sanford VFW Post on School Street, many paused to reflect on Slaton's extraordinary service but also on the struggles facing her military surplus distribution efforts since her death. In twenty years she has done more than most people have done in their lifetime for vets. Pete Maestrae, a Vietnam veterans from Sanford, has known Slaton since l995 and volunteered with her for the past 6 years. He is one of 'Billie's Boys.' a group of veterans who worked with her at the Jagger Mills Road and later Pioneer Avenue locations. When asked about the future of the surplus distribution now that Slaton is gone, Maestre is frustrated and near defeat. The items that are currently being distributed to veterans from the Pioneer Avenue location are what remains from the surplus I items Slaton procured over a year ago from someone associated with the Department of Defense. Since Slaton fell ill, no more surplus items have come to the distribution center. Maestrae has lobbied both Sen. Susan Collins and Sen Angus King on behalf of the local distribution effort. He cites a conversation that he had with Collins via video conference from her office in Biddeford last spring. What Maestrae took away from the conversation with the senator is that a 2013 law dictates how surplus items for veterans are allocated, and he is not optimistic about getting any more surplus items from the Department of Defense. If we only gave to the homeless, we could get surplies, but that is not what Billie wanted. Maestre said at Sunday's gathering. Maestre added that Slaton wanted to give to those in need, homeless and those who were housed but still struggling. Furthermore, no one aside from Slaton has her connection at the Department of Defense that helped her acquire the surplus items. She was one of those unique people with a heart of gold. Maestre said of Slaton. She believed people needed to help people. She had a heart for giving, he said. From nearby, Billy White, a veterans from Kennebunk, concurred, adding She worked very hard with the community in mind. Slaton also was the first administrator at the Sanford Vet Center, now located off Main Street in Springvale. Kelly Perry, a counselor at the center recalled Slaton with a smile, I have all kinds of memories of Billie that involve getting things to veterans in need, Perry said. She specifically remembers the hallways of the Vet Center being lined with piles of presents during the week leading up to Christmas each year. These gifts were the result of a toy drive Slaton had organized for the children of veterans. She took care of every detail, even making sure that each gift was wrapped. When asked about the future of his mother's work for veterans. Jeffrey Slaton said, I'd like the whole thing to be continued, but it sounds like it will be tough.


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