Billy Gerald Slayton, 84, of Huntsville, Alabama, formerly of Fayetteville, Tennessee, passed away on Jan. 1, 2024, at HH Hospice Family Care in Huntsville.

Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Johnny Minick and the Rev. Curtis Silcox officiating. Burial followed in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Billy was born on May 15, 1939, in Madison County, Alabama, to the late Clyde Slayton and Lucille Manley Slayton. He was a 1958 graduate of Hazel Green High School. Mr. Slayton opened the Buy Rite Grocery Store in Fayetteville in 1964. Later he would own and operate the Food Town in Fayetteville, Elora Food Store, and two Food Valu Stores in Huntsville. Billy loved watching western movies with his wife, Eunice Plunkett Slayton, who passed away in 2020. He also enjoyed watching his former Hazel Green High School teacher on the Andy Griffith Show and cherished time spent with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his children, Tab (Vicky) Slayton, Anita (Kenneth) Williams, and Melanie (Gerry) Stevenson, all of Huntsville; grandchildren, Jonah Stevenson, Josie Stevenson, Erica (Nick) Brannon, and Dustan (Melissa) Williams; great-grandchildren, Libby Williams, and Jolee Williams; and a brother, Randall Slayton.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Billy Gerald Slayton.