Billy Ray Golston, Jr. was born on January 29, 1957, in Petersburg, Virginia, to Billy Ray Golston Sr, and Marie Faye Thomas Golston. Spending his early life in both Galveston and Houston Texas, he was educated in both the Galveston Independent School District and the Houston Independent School District where he graduated in 1975 from Lamar High School.

Billy was an avid learner with honorable educational achievements. He attended North Texas State University, where he was inducted into the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Texas Southern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and Houston Baptist University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He had also been accepted into a doctoral program. Billy worked as a mental health counselor, a substitute teacher with Galveston Independent School District, and with the Hilton Hotels in Chicago, Illinois, where he conversed with many famous athletes and celebrities.

Billy was a talented high-school athlete - eliminated from college participation due to an injury. Billy was also an amateur bass guitarist. However, no other hobby surpassed his love for fishing. Billy LOVED fishing. Less than a week prior to his death, he playfully informed the hospital staff that he was “going fishing next week”. In the last few months of his life, many risky moments were spent falling amongst the rocks on the fishing pier, surviving the fall with a comical story to tell.

Billy was preceded in death by his father (Billy, Sr.), mother (Marie), and sister (Saundra Kay). He leaves to mourn, one sister, (Shirley), one nephew (Ronald), two nieces (Marce, Heather), one aunt (Cleo), and a host of cousins, extended family, and friends.

Billy departed this life on October 18, 2025, and left this message for us.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I John 4: 7-8.

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