William Lee Conner

William (Billy) Lee Conner begin his life on March 5, 1956, in Baltimore, Maryland.  He was the eldest of two sons of Purcell and Hazel Harding.  Billy loved life. He was determined to live it his way and he lived it to the fullest until he was suddenly called home to rest eternally with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Billy was educated in the Baltimore County Public School System and graduated from Walbrook High School in 1974. At a very early age, Billy accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and attended the Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD until his move to the other side of the beltway to Burtonsville, Maryland with Brenda.

Billy was not embarrassed to tell people he grow up in the projects of Gilmore.  He felt that it propelled him in life. However, determine not to let the streets of Baltimore claim him, Billy enter into the US Army soon after graduating from high school.  He took serving his country as an honor and proudly served his country for  9 years. After leaving the military, he enrolled in an apprenticeship program  with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW local 24) and graduated in 1987 as an Electrical Journeymen.  Several years later he passed the Maryland State Board  and was awarded his license as a Master Electrician. He was a die-hard member of the IBEW local 24 and proudly carried his union card. Billy continued his education and received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix. But what he was most proud of was the births of his son, Ian and grandson, Ezekiel, obtaining two master’s degrees from the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, his landscaping ability and receiving a patent for a board game he created called Skillnopolit. He also developed an app for the game and called it skullyapp. Billy was also proud of the award he received for writing poetry. He was skilled at many things, but some of Billy’s happiest times were working in his yard. He was very particular about how that yard looked and kept it immaculate at all times.

In 1985, Billy met the love of his life Brenda Downing. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on July 11, 1987.  In 1990, Billy experienced the happiest time in his life from the birth of his son, Ian Bryce Conner. Also, from this union he became a member of an extended family and forged a close relationship within the dynamics of Brenda’s family. Through the Foreign Exchanged Student Program, they gained a son from Ghana, Africa, Abdul Baba (Fatima). Abdul and his family became an integral part of their family.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Purcell and Hazel Conner Harding, his grandmother, Benita Franklin (NaNa).  Billy leaves in God’s Keeping: His devoted wife of 38 years, Brenda; his sons, Ian (Kathryn), Abdul (Fatima); grand-sons, Ezekiel Conner, Nasara Baba, Naani Baba, and Wun-nam Baba; brother Gilbert Harding; brothers in-laws, William Downing (Tamiko), James Downing (Elfreda) and Robert Downing; sisters in-law, Clara Downing Davis, Lena Downing Handy (Samuel) and Arletha Downing and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the American Heart Association.

American Heart Association
7272 Greenville Ave, Dallas TX 75231
Tel: 1-800-242-8721
Web: https://www.heart.org/en/