William Eugene "Billy Gene" Long

William Eugene “Billy Gene” Long, age 89, of Durham NC passed away Wednesday evening, April 9. 2025 at his home surrounded by his wife and children.  He was born October 30, 1935 in Person County, NC, son of the late Archie William “Scott” & Sadye Mae Day Long, where he lived until attending school at Louisburg College on a basketball scholarship. 

At a basketball game in the fall of 1956 at Roxboro Highschool, he would meet the love of his life, Patricia "Patsy"  Weaver Long originally of Durham, NC and begin what would eventually become 65 years of marriage & many happy memories.  

He was retired from sales with Sloane Auto Parts and a long-term active member of Parkview Baptist Church in Durham NC. He was a deacon of the church, collecting the offering most Sundays, operating the sanctuary sound system, member of the dart ball team and a star of the church softball team as their number one pitcher. He shared the love of that sport with both of his sons who also played on the team with him.  

Genie LOVED anything to do with sports.  He was an avid golfer in his day & learned the love of the sport from his father where he would caddy for him weekly. He was a basketball star for The Roxboro High School Rockets. His nickname was “snake”, because he was long and lean! After their wedding, he and Patsy drove off from their honeymoon with no particular destination in mind but found themselves in Augusta Ga, where the Masters is played.  Patsy should have known from the start she would have to share her life with him and his love of sports forever.  His final sports achievement came in his final days as he picked the champion of the NCAA basketball tournament and was the first-place winner for the first time ever.  One of the last things he told his children was that he wanted to go out a winner, and that is exactly what he did.  

He was an avid collector of sorts- from old coins ( or “funny money” as he would say), sports cards, seashells, celebrity autographs, and golf balls from the many places he travelled.  

Surviving in addition to his wife are four children, Gregory Scott Long and wife, Nancy of Cary, NC, William Kevin Long & wife Lisa of Graham, NC, Kristi Long Koren & husband  Benjamin of Raleigh, NC, Kelli Long Bennett of Birmingham, AL, six grandchildren, Eric Gregory Long and wife Emily, Evan Scott Long, Lauren Mae Long, William Garrett Long, Benjamin Beckett Koren, Milo Banks Koren and a great grandchild due in September.  Siblings, Johnsie Long Clayton & husband, Ronald, Jan Long Humpries & husband Neil, all of Roxboro, NC, and Randall Scott Long & wife, Janice of Pineville, NC. And many nieces & nephews. 

Many thanks to his caregivers from Hospice of Durham, Mary McKinney and his many doctors and nurses who cared so well for him in his last days. 

Graveside services will be conducted at 2:00pm Sunday, April 13, 2025 in the Person Memorial Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Bland, and longtime friend Bobby Wilson officiating.  The family will receive friends and guests 30 minutes prior to the service at the cemetery.  

Arrangements are by Strickland and Jones Memorial Funeral Services, 1810 Durham Road, Roxboro, NC 27573, Online condolences may be made at Stricklandandjonesfs.com 

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