William Thaxton Earheart III

William Thaxton Billy Earheart, III, 71, died in Fulton, Mississippi on May 13, 2025 after an extended struggle with cancer. Billy was born on February 21, 1954 in Tullahoma, Tennessee to William Thaxton Earheart, Jr. and Beatrice Christine Williams Earheart.
Billy had the perfect demeanor to serve as the big brother to three younger sisters-he was a kind and gentle brother (aside from that time he got one sisters ankle tangled in his bicycle spokes). In his later years, Billy often spoke about how precious his grandchildren (also known as skunkingtons or polecats of love) were to him. He and his wife, Kat, spent many hours caring for Bailey, Olivia, Grayson and Dylan and that time was a joy for Billy. Billy passed away with over 30 years of sobriety. Without it, he would not have made it to 71.
Billy loved music early and had one year of piano lessons as a child. The piano teacher wasnt teaching the music he wanted to play, so he taught himself. Inspired by Hammond B3 organ players such as Booker T. Washington, Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff, Billy played his first gig in 1966. In 1973, Billy was a founding member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces and received a Grammy Award in 1977 for Best Country Performance for Vocal Duo or Group for The End is Not in Sight. While playing with the Aces, Billy got to travel the world, opening for acts such as Jimmy Buffet, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and appeared on TV shows such as Saturday Night Live and Don Kishners Rock Concert. He played with Hank Williams, Jr. and The Bama Band for over 20 years. He has also played with Al Green, BB King, Rufus Thomas, Mark Muleman Massey, Wet Willie, Eddie Hinton, Tony Joe White, Waylon Jennings, Gate Mouth Brown, Mississippi June bugs, and others.
Billy is survived by his wife of 42 years, Katherine; his son William Thaxton (Monika Wegmuller)Earheart, IV of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and his daughter Laura Franklin Moody (Nic) of Tupelo, Mississippi; grandchildren Bailey Cate Moody; Olivia Jade Moody; Grayson James Moody; and William Dylan Moody of Tupelo, MS; siblings Janice Kersey Earheart (Jim Stevenson) of Memphis, TN; Judith Anne Earheart Plummer (Dale) of Nashville, TN; Mary Earheart-Brown (Jay) of Memphis, TN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents Walter Herbert Williams and Laura Elizabeth Gordon Williams; and William Thaxton Earheart, Sr. and Louise Kersey Earheart.
A memorial service will be 2:00 on Friday, May 16, 2025, with visitation beginning at 12:00 all at Senter Funeral Directors chapel in Fulton, MS. Dr. Jay Earheart-Brown and Bro. Paul Earheart-Brown will be officiating. The family requests that memorial gifts be given to a charity of the donors own choice.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com