Billy Ray Newsome was born March 2, 1948 in Jacksonville, Texas to Hubert Newsome, Sr. and
Emma Johnson Newsome. He was the fourth of ten (10) children and grew up in Jacksonville,
Texas.
Billy attended Fred Douglass High School in Jacksonville, Texas where he graduated in 1966.
After graduating, he received a full football scholarship to Grambling State University. Billy was one of the few freshman that started as a defensive end which was very rare. He was an All American selection and team captain as a senior. Billy began his professional career as a fifth
(5th) round draft choice and played in the 1971 Super Bowl for the Baltimore Colts (Baltimore 16,
Dallas 13) as a rookie. He was a three year starter at both defensive tackle and defensive end. At
New Orleans, he was the Saints MVP in 1973 and the clubs defensive captain. He loved sports
and hanging out with his brothers, Bob and Jim.
Billy married his high school sweetheart, Lolita Hill, and to this union two children were born:
Melanie Deprice Newsome and Reginald Newsome.
Preceding him in death were his mother: Mrs. Emma Newsome; step-mother: Mrs. Girlean
Newsome; father: Mr. Hubert Newsome Sr.; sister: Glenda Faye Goree; brother: Hubert
Newsome Jr.; and, sister: Ella V. Ricks.
He leaves to cherish his legacy, wife: Lolita Newsome; children: Melanie Deprice Newsome (Cephus Murphy) (Tampa, Florida) and Reginald Newsome (Seattle, Washington); grandchildren: McKennah Newsome, Skye Newsome and Anabella Murphy; siblings: Sammie Jo Long (Muscle Shoals, Alabama), Bobby Newsome (Yvonnie) (Shreveport, Louisiana), James (Regina) Newsome (Tyler, Texas), Anita Starling (Conroe, Texas), Debra Kenerson (Darnell) (Houston,Texas) and Sandra Thompson (Jacksonville, Texas).
Services are as follows:
Public Visitation
Friday
November 15, 2024
4:00pm-7:00pm
Mercy/McGowan Funeral Home
415 N. Main St.
Jacksonville, Tx 75766
Funeral Service
Saturday
November 16, 2024
3:00pm
Seminary Heights church of Christ
1208 Arnold St.
Jacksonville, Tx 75766
Click link for directions to Seminary Heights church of Christ.
Seminary Heights Church of Christ - Google Maps
Interment
City Cemetery
Jacksonville, Tx
