ELLISVILLE – Of the seven alumni recognized during Jones College’s Alumni Recognition Program held during Homecoming celebrations, two alumni were honored with the “Achievement & Excellence Award.” Dr. Robert S. Billingsley of Laurel and Dr. Kaylie B. Wilkerson of Ellisville were each recognized during the Homecoming Alumni Luncheon.
“These alumni have demonstrated outstanding success in their chosen fields, and they serve as role models of leadership, dedication and integrity. Also, their accomplishments bring honor within their field, and honor upon the college, and they inspire future generations,” Jones College President, Dr. Jesse Smith said of Billingsley and Wilkerson at the Homecoming Alumni Luncheon.up
Laurel native and current resident of Jackson, Dr. Robert Stevens Billingsley, is in his second year of fellowship training in cardiovascular disease at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The former Jones College baseball player went on to graduate with honors in Biological Sciences from Mississippi State University and earned his medical degree from UMMC, where he received academic scholarships and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Billingsley acknowledged the variety of experiences he gained as a baseball player under Coach Christian Ostrander still influences his life to this day. In addition, former biology instructor, Austin Smith, is credited for his success in medicine as well.
“From a baseball standpoint, I learned three times more about life than just having a good work ethic and how to take each day, head on and work through various trials. To make decisions today, I have drawn on all of my experiences at Jones,” said Billingsley. “Austin Smith was probably one of my biggest influences at JC. He was very personable, and a guy that I felt like I could talk to directly because I had his phone number. He was the one, when I had doubts about my career path, questioning if I was good enough to go into the competitive field of medicine, he was always that voice of reassurance, that voice of positivity and he taught me quite a lot that that just helped me personally. Miss Rhonda Robertson, my chemistry instructor, definitely laid the foundation to pass the MCAT.”
The West Jones High School and 2014 JC graduate completed his residency in Internal Medicine at UMMC, where he distinguished himself as Chief Resident. Alongside his clinical practice, Billingsley has presented original research, led quality improvement initiatives, and volunteered at free clinics. He is the son of “Pic” and Nancy Billingsley and is married to his high school sweetheart, Kelsey and they have one daughter.
Also achieving greatness in medicine is Dr. Kaylie Bradshaw Wilkerson who earned her Associate of Arts degree in 2014 before continuing her studies at Mississippi College and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She received her Doctor of Medicine in 2021 before completing her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UMMC in June 2025 and began practicing at Hattiesburg Clinic. Jones College helped give her a foundation she explained, to help her be successful in her career.
“I was a member of both Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Bobcat Brigade, student ambassadors. I think both of these groups were fantastic organizations for me to have been a part of because they gave me the opportunity to work with other people who actually became healthcare professionals as well. And so, looking back, you know, the friendships and the connections that we made through working at events, but also the volunteering for different projects, I’ve made a lifetime of connections with people that helped cultivate an environment that was fun for learning, but they also taught me some life lessons and how to be a lifelong learner,” shared Wilkinson. “This place is where I also made lifelong connections academically with my instructors and classmates. I really do feel like Jones gave me a fabulous foundation as far as learning and Jones did a really great job preparing me for the next step.”
During her training, Wilkerson received numerous honors, including the Bryan D. Cowan, MD Research Award, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Award, and the Joey Purvis Memorial Fund Award. Additionally, she was awarded the Society of OB/GYN Hospitalists Resident of the Year, and she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Beyond medicine, Wilkerson is actively engaged in her church and community, mentoring youth and supporting outreach programs.
In addition to the Achievement and Excellence Award recipients, two alumni, Cade Cockrell of Magee and Shivum Desai of Hattiesburg received the Rising Stars Award during Homecoming celebrations. In addition, Judge Stan Sorey of Raleigh was honored as “Outstanding Alumni of the Year,” while Ellisville native, and current Oxford, Mississippi and Atlanta, Georgia resident, Beverly Young Langford, Ph.D. was bestowed with the Distinguished Service Award and Billy Royce Folkes of Seminary was recognized as the “Legacy Award” recipient.
