Altrusa Viola Billue Scholarship

Viola Merchant Billue was born on May 14, 1907 in Albany, N.Y. She graduated from the Albany Business College and Indiana University. She was among the first women to serve in the Navy (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service – WAVES). Viola and husband William Tracy Billue moved to Charlotte from Glynco, Georgia in 1948. Viola was the first woman vice president of a Charlotte bank (Bank of Charlotte, aka Southern National Bank). She retired from Republic Bank & Trust Company.

Viola was a charter member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and she was secretary and treasurer for the Congress of Senior Clubs for seven years. She was the volunteer coordinator for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers, Inc. Viola received the Aging Resources Network Service Providers Award.

Viola was a former Altrusan and Club President of the Altrusa Club of Charlotte. The Altrusa Club of Charlotte was the beneficiary of funds from the estate of Viola Billue. Together the Altrusa Club and OASES established the Viola Billue Altrusa Scholarship in 1999 in honor of Viola.

Viola died on March 16, 1994 at 86 years old.