Paying a Visit to Billy Joe Shaver

For detailed instructions of how to find the grave of Billy Joe Shaver, see below.
– – – – – – –
I guess it shouldn’t seem strange that when our country heroes leave us, it hurts like we lost a close friend or family member, even if we never knew our favorite performers personally, and would be lucky to even have met them once or twice. But still, we spend so much time with them during our lives, even sometimes more than our real friends and family. They are there for us during our most trying and troubling times. And though others may let us down, their music never does. Well, at least not their good stuff. It transcends their mortal time on Earth, and endures eternally.
Billy Joe Shaver could be a hero to someone even if they didn’t give a fig about country music. Getting his fingers lopped off in a sawmill when he was young, dodging bullets in his own suicide attempt, threatening to kick Waylon’s ass in front of God and everybody before Waylon saw the light and recorded a whole album of his songs (Honky Tonk Heroes), surviving a heart attack on stage at Gruene Hall, and so on and so forth, let alone arguably being the greatest Outlaw country songwriter of all time, Billy Joe Shaver was definitely a hero, and was coined so by his peers.
But eventually, and somewhat inexplicably, Billy Joe Shaver did die, on October 28th 2020. Turns out, only his songs were immortal. But you can still see him at the Waco Memorial Park just south of Waco, Texas, and just north of the infamous Papa Joe’s bar where Billy Joe Shaver once shot a man in the face after allegedly asking him “Where do you want it?” But don’t worry, he beat the rap with a legitimate claim of self-defense and a character witness in Willie Nelson. Only in Texas, and only Billy Joe Shaver could pull something like that off. That was the reason he was affectionately referred to as the Wacko from Waco, and why we all loved him.
This was actually the second attempt to pay ‘ol Billy Joe a visit. The first was in the early summer of 2021, but came up empty. After unexpected heavy rains shot the grass in the graveyard up knee high, and a marker had yet to be placed, all I got from my efforts was a forehead full of sweat and a few chiggers. Even more concerning was why the great Billy Joe Shaver what still laying in an unmarked grave well over a year after his passing? What’s a call to action needed? Did someone need to start a GoFundMe? This is Billy Joe Shaver we are talking about.
But after a few phone calls, I was assured a proper gravestone was on the way. And so during my next run through Waco, I could finally and dutifully find the grave of Billy Joe Shaver and pay my respects, which I did on my way up from Austin to Tulsa to see those boys from Oklahoma reunite at the home of Bob Wills.
Even with a marker down now, and even if the grass was as manicured as a lockout-delayed Opening Day infield, still this country fan with a knack for finding the final resting places of country contributors both famous and obscure had a devil of a time finding the Billy Joe Shaver plot. So if you find yourself on this dark corner the internet just trying to locate the darn headstone yourself, you’re not alone.
I did find it eventually, right beside his wife Brenda Joyce who Billy Joe married, divorced, broke up with, and reunited with so many times they both lost track. And son Eddy Shaver was next to them. Eddy died on New Year’s Eve, 2000—the year after Billy lost his wife. Eddy passed of an unfortunate and tragic drug overdose, but not before becoming one of the most badass guitar players in country, including taking the place of Pete Anderson in Dwight Yoakam’s band, and of course playing beside his dad for years. Left at the grave was a Blue Moon beer from someone unaware Billy Joe had been stone sober ever since his son’s death, as well as a Red Bull by someone who’d done their homework.
I left nothing but a solemn thank you for the music, the songs, the stories, the heroism and inspiration, for standing up to Waylon Jennings and helping him launch the Outlaw country revolution, for being man enough to show his kinder and gentler side when needed, and for always being there for us country fans in our times of need, always and forever.
– – – – – – – –
Billy Joe Shaver, Eddy Shaver, and wife Brenda Joyce Shaver are buried at the Waco Memorial Park at 6623 S Interstate 35, Waco, TX on the northbound feeder road. They are in Section A (Tower Garden), which is the area right in front of the cemetery office, and between the office and the highway.
Billy Joe Shaver’s plot is 195-A. Walking from the office, it is 13 rows back, and 13 plots across starting from the south side of the section. See the photos at the bottom for a more illustrative guide.





April 8, 2022 @ 8:02 am
Thanks for this! It was a sad day to hear of his passing.
April 10, 2022 @ 9:03 pm
He was a great friend,he ,Brenda and Eddy were beautiful people who made a great impact on my life .We went to church together for several years in Nashville.I will always love them all and thank God for sharing them with me and my family.Rest well .
April 8, 2022 @ 8:13 am
Glad I got to meet him and shake his gnarled hand! It’s really too bad that the Honky Tonk Heroes album he made with Willie and Kris with Eddie playing all the guitar parts is out of print because that one is absolutely stunning!
April 8, 2022 @ 10:20 am
I shook his hand when I met him and momentarily forgot about the missing fingers, but he was cool about it.
Trig – Eddy died in 2000, not 2020.
April 15, 2022 @ 2:14 pm
Well I’m glad I got his back drop to his birthday party from Texas my father n law went to his birthday party they were friends he signed it to my son tommy.he was an amazing talent I’ve heard some great stories from my father nlaw who was standing there when Billy Joe walked up to waylon with those songs he was waylons body guard and it was a close call for Billy Joe but it all panned out and went # 1
April 8, 2022 @ 8:50 am
This piece really spoke to me. I’m a huge Billy Jose Shaver fan. I think he IS country music. His autobiography, though more a pamphlet than a book, it worth picking though (honestly, you can read it in an afternoon). Long out of print but if you contact University of Texas Press, they’ll supply you a copy at cost.
What ever happened to that muted Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman — Live Down Under album? Did that ever see the light of day?
April 8, 2022 @ 9:56 am
Yes, it was actually released lat year. I wrote about it here:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/20-years-ago-billy-joe-shaver-survives-heart-attack-on-stage/
April 8, 2022 @ 10:05 am
Duh! I read this article as well! Thanks for reminding me to check that out
April 8, 2022 @ 8:26 pm
Yes, I got it on Amazon last year. I had the vinyl 33.3 L P for years,but no record player….
Yes Billy Joe was- and still is – the original and greatest Outlaw Country songwriter and his songs come best when he sang them himself.
Thanks for this visit to Billy’s grave, it helps an old English fan say goodbye. RIP Billy Joe.
April 9, 2022 @ 4:45 pm
I didn’t know him but on u tube but really liked how he told stories and his songs and boy could his son play his style of guitar. Three sad stories of him,, his wife and son.so very sad.
April 8, 2022 @ 9:10 am
“ I’m gonna live forever “. RIP BJS.
April 8, 2022 @ 10:16 am
I always thought that Billy Joe Shaver’s gravestone was the Me and Paul album.
April 8, 2022 @ 11:29 am
While I wasn’t particularly a fan of his, I do respect what he stood for. From reading up on him, it’s pretty clear what he would think of Eric church canceling his concert for the game. He was definitely an original.
April 8, 2022 @ 12:31 pm
Billy Joe Shaver’s music changed my life at a time when I didn’t see much reason why I even bothered getting out of bed in the morning. I was lucky enough to tell him so personally after a show a few years back. He grabbed my shoulder and gave me a little side hug. Best memory ever.
April 8, 2022 @ 4:37 pm
Saw Billy Joe at a tiny club in Cleveland. My friend tried to take the set list as a souvenir. Billy Joe caught him and said “Son, you can’t have that” and gave him a CD. The disc “Live At Smith’s Old Bar” is my go-to for Shaver. Eddie absolutely shreds in that show.
April 8, 2022 @ 5:30 pm
Imagine being in a commercial music store back some nearly thirty years ago and hearing a song being played over the stores sound system that was so absolutely mesmerizing that I asked and bought the cd immediately-the song was “I want some more” off Shaver. That album transported me to pure Texas outlaw country music from the man who would teach me and lead me to such a greater understanding of true country music-Saw him and Eddie in Oville touring behind the success of this album and man those Texas boys were polite proud and rocked the club here in Orlando-I dove all in and made it a life purpose to go and see them in Texas and all the Georgia shows I could drive up to with my future wife, friends and eventually my young kids 3 and pushing my infant daughter in a stroller to be and say one day they saw one the great ones-Billy was always old school fan friendly and those photos with him adorn my walls and are posted in my firehouse with him holding our t shirt “Forged in Fire” and boy was he ever!-prized Shaver flyer framed on my wall signed “I wudn’t born no yesterday” by the “Tramp on your Street”
Thank you and as he always signed “bless you and live forever”
April 9, 2022 @ 5:12 am
Flowers instead of bottles for the groundskeeper to clean up ❤
April 8, 2022 @ 8:04 pm
One of my favorite articles I have read on this site. Shaver is for sure a hero of mine. Still planning on taking a trip down there to pay my respects. I was able to see Shaver back in 2016 at Riley’s Tavern in Hunter, TX. After the show I was able to buy a copy of his autography that someone mentioned above. Billy Joe signed it for me, saying “Bless you Taylor, your friend Billy Joe.” It is my most prized possession! God Bless Billy Joe Shaver. Love him like a friend I have know for years and only met him once.
April 8, 2022 @ 8:51 pm
Billy Joe was my music hero and thank you for this Visit to his grave (& Eddy ‘s and Brenda’s). I met him 2x and was due to see him a few days a few days after he was called back from his last UK tour.
He was a Texas Gentleman to his fans. I hope he was wearing his denim and boots when the stroke hit him and he “said his last good goodbye ”
God bless you Billy Joe.
April 9, 2022 @ 5:04 am
He was the best. A true cowboy of modern times
April 9, 2022 @ 8:49 am
Thanks for a wonderful article. We are raising money to erect a bronze statue of Billy in downtown Corsicana. Billy was my cousin and I loved him dearly. I made him a promise in 2018 that I would get a statue in his honor. If anyone is interested in donating information can be found at http://www.billyjoeshaverstatue.com. We still need another $16000.00. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!
Mark Watson
April 9, 2022 @ 12:24 pm
One of the most memorable days of my life was the day I spent with Billy Joe in Waco, interviewing him for a cover story in the June/July 2005 issue of American Cowboy Magazine. We chatted at his house for several hours, then went to the park in Waco and out to dinner at his favorite restaurant there. We even shot a game of pool after dinner. What an experience! When the story was published, Billy Joe left an emotional message on my phone saying he thought it must be the best story anyone had ever written about him. I have been a country fan all my life and learned to 2-step to a little band in Arizona called, “Waylon Jennings and the Waylors,” so meeting the man who wrote 99% of Waylon’s Honky Tonk Heroes album, was a dream come true.” To this day, I can’t believe I spent a day hanging out with Billy Joe Shaver!
April 9, 2022 @ 3:46 pm
Such a great article–Billy Joe Shaver is a legit American hero. I’ve worn through at least a half dozen copies of ‘Honky Tonk Heroes’. Downright iconic…..
April 9, 2022 @ 4:18 pm
I miss Billy a lot we used to sit and drink coffee and swap story’s about everything from Waylon to farm life he was a great friend, I use to tell jokes to Eddie and he’d just crack a smile and left me Wondering if it was as funny as I thought it was. I miss my friends God bless all of them.
Thanks
David A. Lee Jr from Goodlettsville TN
April 9, 2022 @ 6:19 pm
I had the privilege of seeing Billy Joe in concert around a dozen times. I have stated before, but the Shaver concerts in the 1994-1996 range were easily the best I have ever seen(I have seen hundred of concerts). Favorite Billy Joe Shaver story is when Billy Gibbons officiated Billy Joe’s marriage out in Las Vegas. On his wedding night, Billy Joe had an Indian leg wrestling match with his best man in the middle of the casino floor. Billy Joe broke his neck, and was done for the night. His wife proceeded to stay out the entire night. Billy Joe said of her not coming home, “I assume Billy consummated the marriage.” The GOAT.
April 9, 2022 @ 6:24 pm
The “Restless Wind” compilation on Razor & Tie is one of those discs I’ll continue to turn to again and again. Classic Billy Joe Shaver from start to finish. Thanks for another great piece, Trigger.
April 9, 2022 @ 7:48 pm
Billy Joe was a great song writer. He wrote great songs for Waylon, and Waylon is my favorite.
April 10, 2022 @ 10:21 am
In 1977 I was tending bar in The Four Coachmen in Anniston Alabama when this Giant came in and ordered a Michelob. I noticed he was missing some fingers and he said “If Willie or Waylon came in here, everybody would raise Hell but I come in and nobody says nothing!” I said Well who are you? He replied, I’m Billy Joe Shaver and I’m a songwriter. I said I’ve got a Tom T. Hall album where he mentions your name. He said Tom T. didn’t write it, I did. To shorten this, we talked awhile, I cut him off and eventually had to walk him to the door. There was no trouble but I thought I may be fixin to get my ass kicked. I showed him respect and he did the same. I bought everything he ever recorded. My favorite song is “Old Five and Dimers”. I just turned 75 and wish I could have known him better. Real goes a long way with me and he was as real as it gets. R.I.P. Billy Joe! Thanks for the opportunity!
April 10, 2022 @ 1:15 pm
I ran into to Billy Joe, in the HEB parking lot at the “Y” (290 West & Hiway 71), about almost 40 years ago. He was going in to shop and I was leaving. He had a big old 10-gallon hat on, like something you might get at the old Texas Hatters when it was located S. Lamar and Kinney ave. I recognized him and said, ” Hi Billy Joe, I’m a big fan of your songwriting.” This was before he was very well known, and a little after Waylon did his album with all Billy Joe songs. When I told him I was a fan, his face really lit up and he said he appreciated that a lot and shook my hand. He seemed very humble and surprised. I saw him play with a small band at the Austin Outhouse a year or two later to a small group of folks and he really but everything into it even thought the crown was small. He ended with a great spiritual song about Jesus. I still love his music.
July 26, 2023 @ 11:17 pm
Little things. Once upon a time I bumped into Billie Joe loading into Stubb’s Barbecue in Austin. I asked him if I could help him load in. He seemed very happy to be recognized and more than willing to let me lend a hand. I played in bands for a lot of years. The only time I ever asked a club for a show was to open for Billie Joe Shaver. He didn’t give me the gig. I’m still bitter. FUCK YOU Steve!
February 8, 2024 @ 2:29 am
I had the privilege, listening to him on stage, in France in a country music festival “Country Rendez-Vous” in Craponne sur Arzon France, I saw a living legend that I am not ready to share forget.
Thank’s Billy.