Billie Jean Stevens Rayl

Billie Jean Stevens Rayl, 91, of Fairview, NC, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of devotion to her family, faith, and community.

Billie was born on October 17, 1934, at Biltmore Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina, to Bill and Ethel Stevens. She grew up surrounded by her parents, grandparents, and her older sister, June, and younger brother, Henry, in the Oakley community. Billie and her siblings attended Oakley School, now known as Oakley Elementary School, as well as Reed Memorial Baptist Church, now known as Fellowship Asheville.

A graduate of the nursing program at Berea College, Kentucky, in 1955, Billie was part of a tight knit group of graduating nurses who remained lifelong friends and gathered at many reunions over the years. After graduation she worked at Moore General Hospital in Swannanoa and at Oteen Veterans’ Hospital in Asheville.

It was at Oteen where she met her future husband, Dr. John Rayl. In 1962, they married and relocated to Lake City, Florida, where they built many wonderful memories and started their family. In 1986, they returned to the Asheville area and made their home in Fairview, where Billie remained until her passing in the area that she had always called home.

Gifted with a lifelong love of music and her Christian faith, Billie was an active member of two Methodist churches, First Methodist United Church in Lake City, and Oakley United Methodist in Asheville. She dedicated many years to singing in both church choirs- a passion that brought her great joy as well as several lifelong friendships that deeply enriched her life and the lives of others.

A devoted mother and a dear friend, Billie will be missed by all her knew her. She is survived by her two sons, Jeff and Scott, as well as three stepchildren, Edward Rayl (Tia), Michael Rayl (Debbi), and Susan Sapp (Joe). She was also a grandmother of five and a great-grandmother of ten.

A service to celebrate her life will be held on September 25, 2026, at 2:00pm at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, Black Mountain, NC.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.