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==Background==

==Background==

Lemons was born to Wayne Henry Lemons (born 1937) and Verlene Lemons in [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] in Smith County in East Texas. He was reared in Pampa in Gray County in the Texas Panhandle, where he graduated in 1973 from Pampa High School. From 1973 to 1977, he attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]] on a football scholarship. Lemons made the second team All-Southwest Conference and was honorable mention for two years as an All-American. TAMU was the Southwestern Conference champions in 1976, his senior year on the team. Thereafter, Lemons signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns, but was quickly released. Lemons received degrees in [[psychology]] and [[sociology]].<ref name=obit>Obituary of Billie Wayne Lemons, ''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,'' October 16, 2008.</ref>: http://lubbockonline.com/stories/101608/obi_344729168.shtml</ref>

Lemons was born to Wayne Henry Lemons (born 1937) and Verlene Lemons in [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] in Smith County in East Texas. He was reared in Pampa in Gray County in the Texas Panhandle, where he graduated in 1973 from Pampa High School. From 1973 to 1977, he attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]] on a football scholarship. Lemons made the second team All-Southwest Conference and was honorable mention for two years as an All-American. TAMU was the Southwestern Conference champions in 1976, his senior year on the team. Thereafter, Lemons signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Browns, but was quickly released. Lemons received degrees in [[psychology]] and [[sociology]].<ref name=obit>Obituary of Billie Wayne Lemons, ''The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,'' October 16, 2008.</ref>: http://lubbockonline.com/stories/101608/obi_344729168.shtml</ref>

Lemons proclaimed his conversion to [[Jesus Christ]] at the age of eight, and he was called to the ministry in 1972, while he was still in high school. He was also a certified paraprofessional while working in the schools of Pampa and Borger in Hutchinson County. His mission was to help children with physical and mentally disabilities with violent tendencies. At TAMU, he was active in "Aggies for Christ" and went on mission trips to [[Hawaii]], [[Thailand]], and [[Japan]].<ref name=obit/>

Lemons proclaimed his conversion to [[Jesus Christ]] at the age of eight, and he was called to the ministry in 1972, while he was still in high school. He was also a certified paraprofessional while working in the schools of Pampa and Borger in Hutchinson County. His mission was to help children with physical and mentally disabilities with violent tendencies. At TAMU, he was active in "Aggies for Christ" and went on mission trips to [[Hawaii]], [[Thailand]], and [[Japan]].<ref name=obit/>

From 1978 to 1981, Lemons attended Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock under minister Cline Paden (1919-2007). At the time of his death, Lemons had been in ministry for thirty-three years and was the pulpit minister and evangelist at the 20th and Birch Church of Christ in Lubbock. His father, Wayne, has been preaching since 1961 and is based at lainview in Hale County north of Lubbock. His brother, Frankie L. Lemons, is also a minister. His widow, Janet Conaway Lemons, is a certified pharmacy technician who holds a bachelor's degree in social work. At the time of his death, she was employed at the Children's Home in Lubbock, where she has been a recruiter for foster care and adoption.<ref name=obit/>

From 1978 to 1981, Lemons attended Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock under minister Cline Paden (1919-2007). At the time of his death, Lemons had been in ministry for thirty-three years and was the pulpit minister and evangelist at the 20th and Birch Church of Christ in Lubbock. His father, Wayne, has been preaching since 1961 and is based at lainview in Hale County north of Lubbock. His brother, Frankie L. Lemons, is also a minister. His widow, Janet Conaway Lemons, is a certified pharmacy technician who holds a bachelor's degree in social work. At the time of his death, she was employed at the Children's Home in Lubbock, where she has been a recruiter for foster care and adoption.<ref name=obit/>

Lemons also addressed civic groups. In 2006, he keynoted the [[Martin Luther King]] ceremony at South Plains College in Levelland in Hockley County west of Lubbock. Lemons stressed that King did not want people to be judged by their looks, backgrounds, or wealth, but by the content of their character.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907221935/http://www.southplainscollege.edu/ppress/issue_7_06/news/candlelight_news_7_06.htm|title=South Plains College BSO Holds Candlelight Vigil in memory of Martin Luther King|publisher=South Plains College ''The Plainsman Press|date=February 6, 2006|accessdate=

Lemons also addressed civic groups. In 2006, he keynoted the [[Martin Luther King]] ceremony at South Plains College in Levelland in Hockley County west of Lubbock. Lemons stressed that King did not want people to be judged by their looks, backgrounds, or wealth, but by the content of their character.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907221935/http://www.southplainscollege.edu/ppress/issue_7_06/news/candlelight_news_7_06.htm|title=South Plains College BSO Holds Candlelight Service in Honor of Martin Luther King, Black History|publisher=South Plains College ''The Plainsman Press''|date=February 6, 2006|accessdate=

december 24, 2019}}</ref>}}</ref>

December 24, 2019}}</ref>}}</ref>

Lemons had two sons, Devin (and wife Nicole) and Kolin, who was adopted after birth in 2005. At the time of his death, the Lemonses had been since 2006 the house parents of fourteen children in a therapeutic cottage. Lemons was involved in a ministry to mentor and teach parenting skills to teenage mothers. In addition to his wife, sons, brother, and parents, Lemons was survived by a daughter; two grandsons, Gabriel and Christopher Lemons, and his father- and mother-in-law, Jessie, Sr., and Dorothy Conaway. Services were held on October 17, 2008, at Broadway Church of Christ in downtown Lubbock. Interment was at the City of Lubbock Cemetery]<ref name=obit/>

Lemons had two sons, Devin (and wife Nicole) and Kolin, who was adopted after birth in 2005. At the time of his death, the Lemonses had been since 2006 the house parents of fourteen children in a therapeutic cottage. Lemons was involved in a ministry to mentor and teach parenting skills to teenage mothers. In addition to his wife, sons, brother, and parents, Lemons was survived by a daughter; two grandsons, Gabriel and Christopher Lemons, and his father- and mother-in-law, Jessie, Sr., and Dorothy Conaway. Services were held on October 17, 2008, at Broadway Church of Christ in downtown Lubbock. Interment was at the City of Lubbock Cemetery]<ref name=obit/>