For years, I have been an associate of The Anomalist site, which is kind of the “Drudge Report” for the latest, breaking links on Fortean, cryptozoology, and other strange news. The daily work of editing the site’s incoming items has been done by Chris on the weekends and Mel on the weekdays. Patrick Huyghe is the overall editor.
Today, February 24, 2016, Patrick passed along this tragic news:
It is with great sadness that we must inform our readers that Melanie Billings, who has served as our weekday news editor since March of 2012, died on Sunday night [February 21, 2016] in South Carolina, at the age of 42, of complications from the flu. The Fortean community has lost a strong, distinctive voice: she was witty, knowledgeable, and razor sharp. Just as she had no patience for weak evidence and poor reporting, she was quick to call BS on dismissive explanations for apparently genuine phenomena. In her acceptance of the news editor role four years ago, she wrote: “I can’t be the next Charles Fort, but Charlotte Fort suits me fine.” Although Chris Savia and I never met her in person, she was a a presence in our lives. We…wish our Mel, known to our readers as “MB” in post tags, a fond farewell. Today, Mel, in your memory, the news is all yours. (PH)
From the local funeral home, I post this:
Melanie Jean Billings
Apr 3, 1973 – Feb 21, 2016
Melanie Jean Billings, 42, of Piedmont, SC, died Sunday, February 21, 2016, at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Born April 3, 1973, in Spartanburg, SC, she was the daughter of Jerry William Billings and Kathy Hutsell Billings of Enoree, SC and wife of Jason Paul Aranda of the home.A devoted wife, mother, daughter, and sister, Melanie also loved her animals. She was a homemaker and writer of science fiction and other genres, having been published several times for her short stories. She graduated from Woodruff High School and was a member of Roebuck Baptist Church.In addition to her parents and husband, she is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Aranda and son, Griffin Aranda of the home; sister, Bonnie B. Gibbs of Enoree, SC; brother, Robin Billings of Atlanta, GA; maternal grandmother, Helen Hutsell of California; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be 12:30-1:45 PM Thursday, February 25, 2016, at Roebuck Baptist Church, 1979 E. Blackstock Rd., Roebuck, SC 29376. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 PM, at the church, conducted by the Rev. Melvin Shelton and the Rev. Ondra Black. Burial will be in Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church Cemetery, 2153 Mt. Lebanon Rd., Buffalo, SC 29321.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Spartanburg Humane Society, 150 Dexter Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
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My deepest condolences to all of Mel’s family, friends, and her Anomalist family.
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