BILLY M. BIRMINGHAM

Memorial for Billy M. Birmingham will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Autry Funeral Home.

Mr. Birmingham died March 22. He was born in Victoria July 9, 1946. In 1964, he attended Sam Houston State University on a music scholarship, and became a member of the Phi Mu Alpha. He quit school to be drafted into the U.S. Army. Upon returning home, he returned to college while working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In 1979, he received his Masters Degree in criminology. After more than 28 years with the prison system, he retired to fulfill his dream of living in East Texas.

Both he and son, Cole, are members of the International Tae Kwon Do Alliance, and hold second degree black belts. In the past couple of years, he acted in the Rusk Cherokee Civic Theatre. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Shelly Marie. Surviving him are his wife, Katherine Carroll Birmingham; son, Joshua Cole Birmingham; his parents, Bill and Marie Birmingham of Rusk; sister and brother-inlaw, Kathy and Dick Schmidt of San Antonio; brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Fran Birmingham of Rusk; nieces Leanne, Dana, Sarah, Kim, Karmin, Hannah and nephew, Noah; two adult children, Amy Beth and James Martin, and three grandchildren, Kindal, Alexis and Piper, of Huntsville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans.

March 26, 2008

Information from The Cherokeean Herald

Billy Birmingham

 Billy Birmingham passed away at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, 2008 as a result of pancreatic cancer. Billy M. Birmingham was born in Victoria, on July 9, 1946. Most of his youth was spent near his father’s family in South Texas, with his mother’s family living in the East Texas area. As a youth, he loved books. He would ride his bicycle to the library and return home with several tied to his bike with a belt. Billy began playing the saxophone as a teenager. In High School, he was a member of several bands in the community. His parents still talk about the polkas that they attended. In 1964, Billy chose to attend Sam Houston State University on a music scholarship, and became a member of the Phi Mu Alpha. He didn’t get his degree right away because he felt led to quit school to be drafted into the United States Army. He served his term but was disappointed that he was never called upon for actual combat although he was everybody’s favorite since he was their company clerk. Upon returning home, he returned to college while working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. In 1979, he received his Masters Degree in Criminology. After over 28 years with the prison system, Billy retired to fulfill his dream of living in East Texas. His wife presented him with a wonderful retirement present of his son, Cole. Both he and Cole are members of the the International TaeKwonDo Alliance, and hold second degree black belts. In the past couple of years, he found excitement in acting in the Rusk Cherokee Civic Theatre. Billy’s favorite past time was working on his property. His wife describes him as being eclectic, loving life and always finding humor in life’s situations. Billy was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Shelly Marie. Surviving him are his wife, Katherine Carroll Birmingham and son, Joshua Cole Birmingham; his parents, Bill and Marie Birmingham of Rusk; sister and brother-in-law, Kathy and Dick Schmidt of San Antonio; brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Fran Birmingham of Rusk; nieces Leanne, Dana, Sarah, Kim, Karmin, Hannah, and nephew, Noah; two adult children, Amy Beth and James Martin; and three grandchildren, Kindal, Alexis and Piper, of Huntsville; and many other friends and relatives. The memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, 2008 at Autry Funeral Home, 1025 SE Loop 456, Jacksonville, Texas 75766. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Disabled American Veterans. Published in the Jacksonville Daily Progress on 3/28/2008.