Billy Ray Philley, Jr. 56, of Grenada, MS, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 4, 2018 at University Medical Center in Grenada. Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday, October 7, 2018 at Grenada Church of God with visitation 1 p.m. until service time at the church. Rev. James McElroy will officiate. Interment will follow in Harmony Baptist Church Cemetery in Carroll County. Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Billy was born in Greenwood, MS, on December 17, 1961 to Billy Ray Philley, Sr. and Shirley Ellis Tackett. He was a 1980 graduate of Greenwood High School and attended Mississippi Delta Community College. He was a member of Grenada Church of God, where he served as an usher, and for three years, he preached at Harmony Baptist Church. He enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and served his country for 20 years. He was a First Sergeant E8 MSG and served as a Chaplain in the military. Through his military service he received numerous medals and honors. He was a non-commissioned officer, taught at Camp McCain, was a weapons specialist and also taught weapons classes. He served in the Military Police as a dispatcher for the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, and a policeman for the City of Southaven Police Department. In addition to his law enforcement career he had worked for Coca-Cola. He was a gifted writer and was known on social media for his "Coffee and Prayers" posts. He was a source of encouragement and inspiration to all who read them. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Howard and Gladys Philley, and Buck and Maybell Ellis.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy Harvey Philley of Grenada, MS; daughters, Nikki Philley of Grenada, MS, Morgan Hardison of Dallas, TX, and Elise Harvey of Grenada, MS; parents, Billy Ray, Sr. and Jeanette Philley of Greenwood, MS, and T.J. and Shirley Ellis Tackett of Black Hawk, MS; sister, Phoebe Philley of Greenwood, MS; step-brother, Jimmy Twitchell of Hattiesburg, MS; step-sisters, Amy Tackett of Greenwood, MS, and Staci Tackett of Batesville, MS; step-daughters, Nadia Lary of Memphis, TN, Memrie McGovern of Lakeland, TN, and Danielle Matthews of Madison, MS; and eight grandchildren, Josh Philley, Sarah McKinney, Karli McKinney, Clark Wade, Ben McGovern, Jr. , Knox Matthews, Livi Matthews, and Livy Hardison.

Pallbearers will be Doug Walker, Robbie McCellan, Bubba Chrismond, James Lester, Jr., Keith Carver, and John Willcoxon.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warriors, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Military rites will be conducted by Kessler-Hamrick- Gillespie American Legion Post 29 Honor Guard.