Gail Billington: Fighter for Justice

1951-2012

Gail Goerner Billington of Paeonian Springs, Virginia, wife of Michael O. Billington, died after a 10-year battle with Alzheimer's disease on Sept. 1, at the age of 61. She had lived in Virginia for over 25 years. A graduate of Swarthmore College in 1973, Gail had joined the political movement of Lyndon LaRouche soon afterwards, a movement through which she expressed her lifelong commitment to economic and political justice for all mankind. Gail was born in Magnolia, Arkansas, and was the daughter of Hugh and Virginia Goerner. As a youth, Gail had traveled extensively due to her father's profession as an oil industry executive. She lived in Libya and Venezuela, where she gained a deep appreciation of other cultures, and an unshakeable desire to improve their lot. Gail's work in the LaRouche political movement led her to specialize in Asian intelligence work. In December 1984 Gail married Michael Billington, another political organizer for the LaRouche movement, in New York City. Soon afterwards, they moved to the Leesburg, Virginia area. When her husband became a political prisoner due to the persecution of the LaRouche movement, Gail took on the role of a global ambassador for justice--not only for members of her own political movement, but for victims of injustice everywhere. Her efforts took her throughout Europe, Mexico, Thailand, India, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. She is internationally known for her courageous advocacy of real human rights. Gail is survived by her husband Mike, her mother Virginia Goerner of Austin, Texas, and her brother Jon of Dallas, brother Mike and his wife and three children of Boston, and sister-in-law Katherine McNamara of Charlottesville, Va.

The family will be receiving friends on Friday, September 7, 2012 between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. at the Colonial Funeral Home, 201 Edwards Ferry Rd NE, Leesburg, Virginia 20176 where a service will immediately follow starting at 3:00 p.m. Final resting place will be in the Union Cemetery, Leesburg, Virginia.