Warm laughter, poignant tears, and a resilient legacy filled the B.D. Robinson Conference Hall at the Monroe Civic Center on Friday evening, Sept. 25, 2026, as 650 guests gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary retirement Roast and Toast honoring Rev. Oliver “Will” Billups, Jr.
The sold-out, three-hour banquet honored Rev. Billups’ five decades of dedicated service as pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.
Friends, family, city officials, the city marshal, and ministry colleagues packed the lavishly decorated hall, enjoying fine food and vibrant entertainment while reflecting on a shepherd whose career was defined by unwavering perseverance.
Over his 50-year tenure, Rev. Billups led Mt. Olivet through extraordinary trials and triumphs. Under his leadership, the congregation built a new sanctuary, only to see it destroyed by fire. Undeterred, the church built a second sanctuary, which subsequently suffered a catastrophic roof collapse following a severe ice storm. Rev. Billups rallied his congregation yet again, rebuilding a third facility completely from the ground up alongside a new learning center.
Friday’s roast offered plenty of humor alongside solemn praise. The audience laughed as speakers recounted misadventures from Billups’ youth—including the time he got bird poop in his eye, a harrowing moment when he hung by one hand after falling off a building, and numerous instances when he rushed to rescue family members.
In one of the evening’s lighthearted highlights, representatives from Smith Funeral Home presented Billups with a giant cardboard check filled with zeroes and the word “Priceless”—before handing his wife the actual check.
The celebration culminated with Rev. and Mrs. Billups taking to the dance floor and sharing heartfelt words of appreciation with the crowd. They closed the memorable evening by leading the audience in an emotional, tearful rendition of “How Can I Say Thanks.”
The milestone celebration followed Billups’ final sermon as pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. While he is officially stepping down from the pulpit after 50 historic years, Billups emphasized that he is retiring only as a pastor, not as a minister and teacher.
