Gatlin family seeks marker at Assembly of God church

Family members of Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers Band are working to get a historic marker for the Olney church on Main Street where the Gatlins sang as children. Danny Willingham and his grandmother, Patricia Annette Hobbs, of Olney have been in touch with Larry Gatlin’s manager and state historical commission officials to inquire about memorializing the childhood concerts that Larry, Rudy, Steve, and LaDonna Gatlin sang in the church in the 1950s.

Mr. Willingham spent the past two years tracing the family’s ties to the famous country western group, to whom he is related through his father, Joe Pat Willingham. Joe Pat Willingham’s great-uncle, John Booker Willingham, owned a hardware store in Olney at the turn of century. John Booker Willingham’s sister, Nida, moved to Olney from Archer County with her husband, Clib Doan, an oilfield pumper, to be close to her brother, Mr. Willingham said. Clib and Nida Doan had two children, Billie Christine and James Earl “Jimmy,” both of whom were musically talented, Mr. Willingham said. Jimmy would later write music for the Gatlins and the Gaither Vocal Group, a Christian band, Mrs. Hobbs said.

“James stood in the doorway and watched [as] Billie Christine got her [piano] lessons first and James learned from watching,” Mrs. Hobbs said. “[The Gatlins] recorded James’ songs. He wanted them published and he didn’t want to put his name on them.”

Billie Christine later married William Wayne “Curley” Gatlin of Maybank (Mabank), a lifelong oilfield worker who began as a roughneck and ended as a driller. Billie Christine gave birth to Larry Gatlin in 1948 in Seminole before returning to Olney to be with her mother for the births of Steve in 1951 and Rudy in 1952 at Olney Hamilton Hospital.

The Gatlins got their musical talents from both parents, with Billie Christine playing piano and Curley on guitar, and their music revolved around the Assembly of God church, Mrs. Hobbs said. Billie Christine also taught Sunday school and Mrs. Hobbs recently found a church certificate signed by her famous former teacher.

Mrs. Hobbs would go on to marry John Booker Willingham’s nephew, and to become close to Billie Christine’s mother, Nida.