John "Billy" William Welsh IV

Mr. John William (Billy) Welsh IV, 81, of Belk, AL, passed into the arms of Jesus on 6/11/25 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at Belk Freewill Baptist Church on Sunday, (6/15/25) at 3:00 p.m.Vistation will be one hour prior to service time. A burial with Military Honors will follow at Wesley Chapel Cemetery. Brother Lamar Cox, Brother Danny Thompson, and Brother Barry Kelly will officiate. Norwood-Wyatt Chapel will be directing the service.

A beloved husband, son, father, uncle, brother, grandfather, and friend. Billy’s life was filled with love, laughter, and devotion to his family and faith. Born and raised in Homewood, AL, he joined the Navy at an early age and received his high school diploma there. He attended Jefferson State Community College after leaving the Navy, in ’64 and ’65. Billy worked for Bumper-to-Bumper Auto Parts as a Territory Manager for many years until they sold to Cargo Automotive in TN. He worked with them for many years after that. His faith was an integral part of his life, and he was a devout member of the Belk Freewill Baptist Church. Where he was an usher until his death.

Billy was an exceptional husband, father, and grandfather to all of his “babies” as he called them. He cherished his family above all, after his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He made many beautiful memories with all his family at each occasion that he could. To know him was to love him. He loved people and it showed in his work as a salesman.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John W. Welsh, III, and Wanda Abbott Welsh and his paternal and maternal grandparents all of Birmingham, AL, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Grady and Erdeal Gilreath of Belk, AL, brothers-in-law, Wayne Gilreath of Georgia, William Ballard of Birmingham, AL, and Harold Potter of Rainbow City, AL, and his step-mother-in-law, Betty Gilreath of Fayette, AL.

He is survived by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Sherry Gilreath Welsh, of Belk, AL, two sons, John William Welsh V (Tracy) of Birmingham, AL, and Christopher Allen Welsh (Brittany) of Birmingham, AL, grandchildren, Maddie Welsh, Hadley Welsh, Asher Welsh, Brittany Hopper (Dillon), greatgrandchildren, Eli, Emma and Easton Hopper, sisters, Peggy Ballard, of Birmingham, AL, sister-in-law, Linda Potter of Rainbow City, AL, and June Gilreath of Georgia, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were dear to his heart.

Pallbearers are Asher Welsh, Dillon Hopper, Tim Ballard, Bill Ballard, Don Byars, Sam Henderson, Ralph Carol, and Bill Ray.

Honorary Pall Bearers are Tom Gilreath, Bart Gilreath, all the members of the Belk Freewill Baptist Church, Amedisys Hospice and staff, and the many friends he has made over the years.