Billy Wayne Holcomb Obituary
Dr Billy Wayne Holcomb, age 84 of Denison TX, went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ early Sunday morning January 8th, 2023. He was at home surrounded by his loving family.
He graduated in Denison TX, 1956 and went on to University of Texas Permian Basin College in Odessa Texas. He studied theology in Cleveland Tennessee.
He received his Doctor of Music degree from Emmanuel Baptist University in North Carolina.
Billy was born on February 8th, 1938, to Floyd Andrew and Virgie Caroline Cox Holcomb in Ubell Fannin County TX in the home of his grandmother Cora Mae Cox. He lived in Honey Grove until November 1944, when his family moved to Denison TX.
He has been a member of The Trinity Lighthouse Church for many years. Starting out in an old tent as a small boy with Pastor Elza England. His longtime friend and current Pastor Raymond England.
In January 1956 while visiting his uncle, Rev Charles Edgar Cox church service in Paris TX. He saw a young lady sitting with a red-headed boy. He asked his cousin Billy Neal Wilkinson, what her name was, Mildred Christine Pate. He told his cousin he was going to steal that girl from that boy. And he did just that.
On June 30th, 1956, Billy married Mildred Christine Pate in Paris TX at the home of his uncle and her pastor. Rev Charles Edgar Cox, his uncle officiated the small ceremony and Aunt Faye Cox hosted the event.
Billy gave his beautiful bride the nickname Milly the model, it has become her name to many friends and family. Not really knowing how she got that name.
They have been married 66 years and had a marriage as God intended. They stood strong together through life's love, joys, laughs and hardships. He really spoiled his little treasure. In his last few days as they spoke quietly. She asked him, are you ok, are you hurting anywhere?" he said, "I am ok, I just worry about you when I'm gone.".
When they married Billy fell in love with her little brother Roger Dale Pate, he always considered him, his first born. He went everywhere with them. He promised him cowboy boots. He hung him in a tree. I think only family will understand, but it is a funny story. He once saw a scary movie, after he was married for a few years. He came over, slept between them that night. His wife slept with the girls.
They had 2 daughters Carolyn Denise Tilton, Allen TX, and Kimberly Alyssa Lafavor, Denison TX.
They gave him some of life's greatest treasures grandchildren: Erica Nichole, Erin Michelle, Tyler Andrew, Taylor Kristine (Cameron) and Heather Dawn.
Great grandchildren: Jacob Andrew, Dylan Scott, Curtis James, Porter Hayes, Emri Saige, Lorenzo, Amberly, and Chevy.
Billy and Milly lived in Denison a short time, then off to Odessa in the oil boom, then to El Paso TX, Gallop New Mexico, back to Denison. After working at Beall's Department store for some time. He was transferred to manage the store in Mt Pleasant TX. Shortly after moving to Mt Pleasant, he was called to preach. Serving as Pastor of The Church of God of Prophesy in Pittsburg TX. Some of the families' favorite years were those spent with the church family in Pittsburg TX.
The family moved back to Denison in 1972.
As a young boy his mother asked "Billy Wayne what do you want to do when you grow up? '. He said, "I want to write songs and sing them.". She told him "If the Lord wants you to, he will educate you.". Though he never had formal training Billy played piano in an amazing way, he played the guitar, accordion, and organ. He began writing songs and singing in High School. Originally playing with a Western Gospel Band.
He has written more than 1000 songs, many recorded himself and several by top stars. Most of his songs were country gospel, patriotic, and some country.
He was in Billboard Music Magazine top 100 in the late 1960's. It was then 5 doctors came to our home to ask him to go to Nashville to start a fulltime professional music career with their backing. He turned them down stating his loyalties were to Christ, church, wife, and children. Billy continued to write and record songs, poems, and books.
In 1956 Billy along with W Lindsey Thompson co-founded of The International Country Gospel Music Association. Their goal was to spread the message of Jesus Christ throughout the world with music. The movement is going strong today under the current President Dan Duncan. In 1977 he founded The Texoma Gospel Music Association. Promoting local musicians. Still going strong under the current President Dr Mary Faye Jackson. In addition to being a former KJIM (Keeping Jesus in Music) radio station owner, and disc jockey.
He is a published author with Theater Row Movie Palaces of Denison, Texas, and Great Movie Palaces in Gainesville Texas. Numerous publications on the B-movie western stars. At the time of his death, he had several other projects in the works.
In 1942 at the age of 4 Billy's mother took him to a Gene Autry movie, he could never remember anything about meeting Gene, but he still has his autograph from that day. From then on Gene was his Hero. He began to collect everything he could find about Gene and Champion. He still has all of it today. He has hundreds of magazines, posters, coloring books, everything about his #1 hero. But that was only the beginning, he devoted collections to Roy Rogers, Allan "Rocky" Lane, Randolph Scott, and many of the other b movie cowboys. He also included Audi Murphy. He was not only interested in the main characters in the movies. He also loved the villains he would write to them to get the name of their horses. He could tell you everything you would ever want to know about any cowboy and his horse. If there was a poster, or a flyer or a hand bill, there is a good chance that he got hold of not just one, but three or four of them. He collected everything, and even as a youngster of eight he had the discipline and foresight to take care of his treasures. He made notes about them, cataloged, and preserved them. He often bought several copies of magazines or comic books, cutting one up to put in thick scrapbooks and saving the others. He also collected TV guide. What was fading nostalgia for most was always still bright for him. It was all stored in that unbelievable memory of his.
In addition to these devoted endeavors, he worked at the Denison Cotton Mill for many years, Kenney's Shoe Store in Odessa TX, Beall's Department store in Denison and Mt. Pleasant TX. Britain's Department store in Pittsburg TX. He worked for American General Life Insurance Company in Sherman TX winning trips all over the world. In his later years he worked at Albertson's, eventually retiring when his health began to take a toll on his body.
Billy is survived by his wife Mildred Holcomb of Denison, his daughters Kim Lafavor of Denison & Denise Tilton of Allen, 6 grandchildren Erica (Ken), Erin, Tyler, Taylor (Cameron) Heather, 8 great grandchildren Jacob, Dylan, Curtis, Porter, Saige, Lorenzo, Amberly, and Chevy. Numerous relatives and many friends.
He is preceded in death by his mother Virgie, daddy Floyd, sister Goldie Mae Barron and her husband Neal Barron, nephew Paul Neal Jr, nieces Pamala Kay Barron and Vicky Elaine Manning. His beloved dog Peeair.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2: pm Saturday, January 28th, 2023, at Trinity Lighthouse Church 2915 Spur 503 Denison TX 75020. The family will receive friends during visitation at the church on January 28th at 1: pm.
The family would appreciate donations to the widow for final expenses in lieu of flowers, in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 604 West Main St, Denison, TX 75020.
