Billy Newham, 78, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, September 23, 2017, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with the Dr. Danny V. Ray officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends Friday evening, from 6 PM until 8 PM, at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mr. Newham was born March 31, 1939, in Nichols, Georgia, to the late William “Willie” & Ella Mae Taylor Newham. He had lived in the community for the past 17 years. Mr. Newham was retired from the United States Army and served his country honorably for 22 years, including time in Vietnam. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 5976 in Douglas where he served as Quartermaster for several years. He enjoyed gardening and was a family man that enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Bennett Newham of Fitzgerald; children: John & Christina Newham of Fitzgerald, Billy & Tracy Newham of Fitzgerald, Tabatha & Ted Peaster of Warner Robins, and Tammy & Donnie Alexander of Fitzgerald; four grandchildren: Braylan “Frambo” Newham, Kyle “Sherman” Adams & Chynna, Kayla “Cricket” Newham, and Matthew “Parker Haywood” Kent; two brothers, Wallace Newham of Douglas and Allen Nelson of Douglas; and two sisters: Wanda Hodges of Douglas and Joann Gillespie of Douglas. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Ashley “Thomas” Youngblood; a step-brother, Donnie Nelson and a sister, Joyce Batten.