Billy J. Coleson

Billy J. "Mr. Gospel Harmonica" Coleson

 May 13, 1938- April 30, 2005 CUSSETA, GA— Billy J. "Mr. Gospel Harmonica" Coleson, 67, of Cusseta, Ga., died Saturday, April 30 at the Columbus Hospice House. 

Funeral services with Military Honors will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 4 in the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Macon Road Chapel with Dr. Mike Stevens officiating. 

Burial will follow in Main Post Cemetery, Ft. Benning, Ga. 

The family will receive friends Tuesday, April 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Coleson was born May 13, 1938 in Mounds, IL, son of the late Lloyd E. Coleson and Ruby Bell Harp Coleson. 

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Anglin Coleson, his son, Billy J. Coleson, Jr., his brothers, Richard Coleson, Floyd "Sonny" Coleson and LeRoy Coleson. 

Mr. Coleson was an Army veteran and spent time in Indochina, Korea and Vietnam. He went to NCO Academy, qualified with the M-1, BAR, and received the Expert badge with the M-14 and had received during his military career, the Good Conduct Medal (4th award), National Defense Service Medal, President Unit Citation, MDSM, Air Medal (1st-17th OLC) Vietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal (w/60 device), 1 Overseas Service Bar, 6 Service Stripes and retired as Staff Sergeant. 

Mr. Coleson was a member of the VFW and a member of Temple Baptist Church. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances Coleson of Cusseta, Ga.; his daughter, Carol Ann Hall of Columbus; sons, Rickey Lynn (Mildred) Coleson of Columbus, Jimmy Eugene (Julie) Coleson of Pensacola, Fla.; his brothers, Harry E. (Mary) Coleson of Olive Branch, IL, James (Barbara) Coleson of DeKalb, Texas, Hershel D. (Wendy) Coleson of Olive Branch, IL, Thomas F. (Kay) Coleson of Advance, MO; his sisters, Marian Sams of Olive Branch, IL, Judy (Gerald) Perkins of Kodak, TN, Sharon (Harold) Foster of Olive Branch, IL; his grandchildren, Olan (Tiffany) Hall, Christian Coleson, Jordan Coleson, Jasmine Coleson, Jadelynn Coleson and his daughter-in-law, Michaela Coleson of Columbus.