Billy Coleson

CUSSETA, Ga. -- Billy Joe Coleson, 66, of Cusseta died April 30, 2005, at the Columbus Hospice House.

He was born May 13, 1938, in Mounds, Ill., son of Lloyd E. Coleson and Ruby Bell Harp Coleson Rogers.

He and Shirley Anglin were married July 20, 1956. She died May 20, 1989. He and Mary Frances Moore were married May 5, 1996.

He was a member of Temple Baptist Church.

He served with the U.S. Army in Indochina, Korea and the Vietnam War and retired as a staff sergeant from Fort Benning. He received the National Defense Service Medal, four Good Conduct Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device, an Overseas Service Bar, Air Medal with 17 Oak Leaf Clusters and six service stripes.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Carol Ann Hall of Columbus; two sons, Ricky Coleson of Columbus and Jimmy Coleson of Pensacola, Fla.; four brothers, Harry E. Coleson and Herschel D. Coleson Sr. of Olive Branch, Ill., Thomas F. Coleson Sr. of Advance, Mo., James Coleson of DeKalb, Texas; three sisters, Marian Sams and Sharon Foster of Olive Branch, Judy Perkins of Kodak, Tenn.; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son and three brothers.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Striffler-Hamby Funeral Home in Columbus. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Dr. Mike Stevens officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be in the Main Post Cemetery at Fort Benning.