William Hugh Nelson Jr. (1958 - 1991)

Born 12 May 1958 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA

Ancestors

Died 24 Dec 1991 at age 33 in Ridgetop, Robertson County, Tennessee, United States

Biography

William Hugh Nelson, Jr., known as Billy to his family and friends, was the son and namesake of legendary country singer Willie Nelson.

He was born William Hugh Nelson, Jr. on 12 May 1958 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA.^[1]

He was one of the three children of Willie Nelson and Martha Jewel Matthews:

1. Delana Nelson, born 1953 in Hillsboro, Texas
2. Susie Nelson, born 1957 in Vancouver, Washington.
3. Billy Nelson ^[2], born 1958 at Ft. Worth, Texas. Billy died in 1991.^[3]

Martha Jewel Matthews and Willie Hugh Nelson Sr.

Billy's father Willie was the son to Ira Doyle born 9 July 1913 in Pindall, Searcy, Arkansas. He married Willi's mother Myrtle Marie Greenhaw, born 3 May 1913 in Pindall, Searcy, Arkansas. The marriage was in Newton Co., Arkanas, 6 Sep 1929. ^[4] Myrle and Ira later divorced in 1935. After their divorce, their children Bobbie and Willie stayed in Abbott and were raised by Ira's parents Alfred (Pop) and Nancy (Mamma) Nelson. Ira passed away 5 Dec, 1978 and Myrle on 11 Dec 1983. ^{[5] [6]}

Billy's grandmother, Myrle Marie Greenhaw (1913-1983) ^{[7] [8]}was born into a family of music in Arkansas. Her father William Alex Greenhaw, was an expert banjo player (and moonshiner), her brother Carl played the piano, and Myrle was an accomplished guitar player, and they all were singers. Myrle married Ira Nelson September 6, 1929 in Newton County, Arkansas. They migrated to Abbott, Texas just after the wedding and were blessed with a daughter, Bobbie Lee Nelson, on January 1, 1931, and a son, Willie Hugh Nelson, on April 29, 1933 (both of whom later in life rose to super stardom).

Life and Times

Nelson and Billy were in the process of compiling and releasing a gospel inspired album that contained multiple duets between the father and son.

Below are some videos of Billy singing. It is amazing that he sounds so much like his father Willie Nelson.

My Body's Just a Suitcase for My Soul: Billy Nelson featuring Willie Nelson Video

Willie Nelson's Talented Son Billy Sounds Just Like His Dad Singing 'Always on My Mind' 5:32

Willie and son Billy singing "Silent Night" together.

Memories

Billy with family members, He and his grandmother, his daughter, Rae Lynn, his two sisters, Mom, Dad, Beautiful photos I came across on the web and created a compilation. Edwards-13482 10:46, 23 December 2017 (EST)

Marriage and Children

Father to Rae Lynn born 10 Jul 1984. Billy's only child.

Death

“Death is not the ending of anything,” Willie says quietly. “I believe all of us are only energy that becomes matter. When the matter goes away, the energy still exists. You can’t destroy it. It never dies. It manifests itself somewhere else.” He pauses. “We are never alone. Even by ourselves, we are not alone. Death is just a door opening to somewhere else. Someday we’ll know what that door opens to.”^[9]

Back in December of 1991, widely recognized country music legend Willie Nelson received gut wrenching news that would reside within any parents' worst nightmare. The country music success was informed that one of his three children from his first marriage, Willie "Billy" Hugh Jr., had passed away the previous day, on Christmas Eve.

He died at the age of 33, on 24 Dec, 1991. ^[10]Cause of death, suicide. Willie Jr. hanged himself in a cabin on the family's property in Ridgetop, TN., the same place where Willie's home burned to the ground back in 1970. ^[11]

Billy, ruled to have been legally drunk when he died, had apparently hanged himself after a friend drove him home around 2 A.M., the day before Christmas after a night out drinking. The sometime musician, who lived mostly on an allowance from his father, had been planning to release an album of gospel tunes he’d written—including “I Can Live Forever” and “My Body’s Just a Suitcase for my Soul.”

Ultimately, in 1994, three years after Billie's tragic death, Nelson released the album, entitled Peace In The Valley, which contained the often reminisced duet between the two family members. With Billie singing lead, the song "My Body's Just A Suitcase For My Soul" broke the hearts of listeners upon the album's release, and it still continues to do so. The sentimental album was rereleased back in 2015.

Although an immensely sad reminder of the devastating situation that Nelson and his family endured in regards to Billie's death, this symbolic tune ensures that Billie's spirit and soul will forever be carried on.

Billy had had a history of despondency. His mother, Martha, the first of Willie’s four wives, had died around Christmas 1989. At about the same time, Billy separated from his own wife, Janet Caldwell, who had custody of their young daughter, Rae Lynn.

Three days after Christmas, Willie Nelson Sr. was left to perform his final fatherly duty, seeing his son buried in the Nelson family plot.

Sources

1. ↑ Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997. Roll number 1958_0011.
2. ↑ The Nelson Story
3. ↑ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
4. ↑ Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1837-1957. FHL Film Number: 2020695.
5. ↑ Source Citation Number: 445-14-7132; Issue State: Oklahoma; Issue Date: Before 1951.
6. ↑ Memorial for Ira Doyle
7. ↑ Memorial for Myrle.
8. ↑ Myrle Marie Greenhaw Harvey (3 May 1913–11 Dec 1983), Find A Grave Memorial no. 27246506, citing Terrace Heights Memorial Park, Yakima, Yakima County, Washington, USA ; Maintained by Scott Lawlis (contributor 46830770) .
9. ↑ A quote from Willie Nelson SR.
10. ↑ Memorial for Billy
11. ↑ Willie Hugh “Billy” Nelson, Jr (12 May 1958–24 Dec 1991), Find A Grave Memorial no. 6824221, citing Vaughan Cemetery, Vaughan, Hill County, Texas, USA ; Maintained by Cathy Creger Shelley (contributor 46534937) .