For most in Scott County that knew Bill Wilbourne, he was recognized for his time as Constable, but for anyone who did not know him during his tenure with law enforcement, and for anyone in the future that will go searching for his story, Willbourne will be best remembered for what he created as a recording artist with his wife, Kathy, without whom this story cannot be written.
Their artistic endeavors together may have only occupied a brief chapter in their lives, but when an artist passes, the work they created becomes their legacy — it becomes the fruit of their life that all can enjoy again and again.
Bill and Kathy sang country duets. The Wilbournes released five double-sided singles records which placed on the charts nationally in the late 1960s. Their charting singles included A Good Thing, Him and Her, Look How Far We’ve Come, Lovin’ Season, and The Lovers.
In 1968, Bill and Kathy released a LP titled, The Lovers. The Wilbournes were nominated for a Grammy for The Lovers in 1968 in the category of Best Country & Western Performance - Duo or Group.
Their music has a texture of 60s-country before rhinestones and outlaws dominated the genre. The instrumental work on their records is minimalist with twangy acoustic guitar, the occasional fiddle, and steel guitar; which is played horizontally and with a steel slider giving the instrument a drawl.
The lyrics in their songs have repeating themes of tumultuous romance and unrequited love. Their music is a celebration of their love.
The Wilbournes each experienced falling in love with another creator and putting their name beside the one they loved on something they brought into creation by the force of their work — down in the mud and the blood as Johnny Cash sang. Art is almost always a fight.
Working with another artist is an act of union that is immortal. People get divorced, new partners fill the hours of one’s days, but making something with another artist means you will always have your name beside theirs when the story is written.
Whether writing a book or recording an album as a team, you are sharing the love of your life with another person — most certainly someone you did not grow up with; someone you met in your adult life as Bill and Kathy did.
The paths of Bill Wilbourne and Kathy Morrison began far apart and converged in Meridian. Bill was born in Aliceville, Ala in 1939, and Kathy was born in Mobile the same year. The pair married in 1965.
The Willbournes met through their common involvement performing country music. Together, they toured with Hank Williams Jr., Loretta Lynn, Porter Wagner, and Dolly Parton.
The pair stopped touring in 1972 with the birth of their son, Steven Wilbourne. On why Bill and Kathy stopped touring, friend and co-worker, Justice Court Judge Bill Freeman said Wilbourne told him, “I knew I couldn’t be on the road and raise a family.”
Freeman said, “Scott County lost a great citizen, and law enforcement lost a great officer. Bill always appeared in uniform — he wore it with pride.”
Freeman worked with Wilbourne during the first four years of Freeman’s tenure. He said the two would ride together to Sebastopol when court was in session and they would eat lunch at the Burger Barn.
Tim Sorey, President of Scott County Board of Supervisors said, “Bill was an asset to the community — he was a good person.”
Between his years as a recording artist and when he settled in Forest, Wilbourne was the manager of the WRAG radio station in Carrollton, Ala until 1978.
Wilbourne took over Scott County Broadcasters (WQST) and worked there from 1978 to 1992. He purchased FMA Furniture in 1993.
Wilbourne ran for Constable in 1995 and was elected to five terms before retiring in December 2015.
His son, Steven said, “Being a public servant was a highlight of his life.” Steven Wilbourne said he was moved by the saluting officers who stood in uniform in the rain as the funeral precession passed.
Wilbourne is survived by his wife Kathy and his three children, Lisa Easterwood, Steven Wilbourne, and Shane Wilbourne.
