Coach Billy Colburn, 82 years old, born June 9, 1944 in Sipsy, Alabama, in a West Alabama coal mining camp, at home. George Willard Colburn and Pauline Estelle Kelly were his parents.
He attended Brilliant Elementary as a little barefoot, cotton-top country boy. His dad took a job in Chalmette at the Kaiser Aluminum plant. Coach played junior high and high school football and ran track – #85 defensive end. His dream was to become a football coach, but his C.H.S. teacher told him he would never be college material.
He attended Southeastern College, made the football team, but not his grades. The Viet Nam War was hot and heavy, if you weren’t in college, you were drafted. Hurricane Betsy changed that course – his home was almost totally destroyed by Mississippi River flood waters filled with snakes and alligators. It made all the young men exempt from the draft. He was able to enroll at Livingston State College and try out for the football team for a scholarship, which he earned.
He met his sweetheart, Joy, at a church supper in Tuscaloosa while visiting his cousins for Thanksgiving. They were seniors in High School, Joy at Tuscaloosa High. They wrote a lot of letters and dated over five years before they married on June 1, 1968. When they returned from their honeymoon, Coach had orders from the draft board.
Coach joined the Army, Army Security Agency, basic training at Fort Jackson, NC, Advanced I.T. at Fort Gordon, GA. He received orders for Viet Nam, but they were revoked when he broke his ankle for the third time. He was sent to Frankfurt, West Germany. Joy was allowed to join him and by the grace of God, interviewed and was hired to teach kindergarten for the Army. Their son, Roman, was born seven weeks before they came back to the U.S.A. Coach flew helicopters as a crew chief and played football for Air Force and Army.
Coach returned to Livingston University and received his BS degree in Secondary Education, then a Masters, and taught two years as a graduate student. Their daughter Jacey Ames was born during this time before Coach accepted his first coaching job under Coach McCoy at Huntsville High School. He taught Bible class for Juniors at Mayfair Church, 50 students. Coach and Joy also served as camp counselors at Christian camp Neyati for four years.
Coach’s parents moved to Fort Payne when his dad retired to be close to Coach’s grandmother, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kelly. He heard of a job opening at FPHS, coaching under Coach James Standfield. They hired him and Joy to teach and coach. He filled the position of defensive line and head track coach, then later a need for a wrestling coach came open. He didn’t have a wrestling background, just trained in boxing and judo. He learned quickly, a natural leader and earned the nickname “DAD CAT” – He was the only dad some young men had to help them in life. He was selected as the Golden Apple Award for best teacher in the State. His “Blood and Guts” award is still given, and he was inducted into the DeKalb County Sports Hall of Fame. He once told a crowd that he loved FPHS so much that his “underwear was black and gold!” He had a great sense of humor and wit and was beloved by so many.
He would always ask “How are you and the Lord getting along?” He survived so many tragedies in life but the Lord always helped him through – He and his family loved the Lord with all their hearts!! Psalm 37:4-6
He delighted in teaching and coaching, thanking God for the opportunity. H e was the first one to drive the Wildcat bus and the last one when it was retired. You say the name Coach Colburn and you will see a smile – they knew him as a beloved Christian coach going home, “I’ll meet you at the gate!” He always told everyone “Jacey and Reese will be there waiting for him, ready to run!” “Thank you, God, for my husband – a good, grandfather, daddy, son, grandson, brother, nephew, and friend.” – Joy
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joy; son Roman and wife Kelly; grandson Rocky Colburn and wife Anna; sister Sandra Fay Johnson and husband Mitchell; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Jacey Colburn, grandson Reese Colburn, and his parents George Willard Sr. and Pauline Colburn.
Funeral services will be 12 noon Thursday, September 10, 2026 at Fort Payne Family Worship Center with burial following in Glenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4 until 8 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home. The family is accepting flowers or memorial donations may be made to the Jacey and Reese Colburn Heart of a Warrior Fund in care of Regions Bank, Fort Payne, AL.
A special thanks to Fort Payne Family Worship Center for all their help during this time and to Coach’s devotion group of wrestlers that met every Wednesday!
From the coal mining camp in Alabama to the Crescent City of New Orleans to the cotton fields of Livingston to the Army in Europe, hired in the Rocket City of Huntsville to the mountains of Fort Payne, Alabama – He traveled by the grace of God, preaching and teaching the Bible that was lived through his love for others. We love you Coach Colburn and we will meet him at the gate!” God Bless you all!
Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory of Fort Payne is in charge of arrangements.
