He was born March 13, 1935 in Marshall to Richard Worth Haynes Sr. and Mary Erma Sanders Haynes. On December 15, 1982 he married Wanda Pauline Adams. Billy was a rancher for many years and also owned and ran a dairy in the Grange Hall community of Marshall. He also worked for the Texas Forest Service. Billy worked at Marshall National Bank, First National Bank as well as banks in Elysian Fields and Waskom. He retired from Marshall ISD transportation.

Surviving Billy are his wife, Wanda Pauline Haynes; children, Sherry Griffis and husband Mike, Dick Haynes and wife Darla, Debbie Woodley and husband Keith, Becky Haynes, Christy Bibb and husband Jim, Belinda Walden, Brent McIntosh and wife Shannon and Bryan McIntosh and wife Melissa; grandchildren, Dusty Woodley, Danielle Struwe, Lee Haynes, Casey Griffis, Trey Hicks, Jake Bibb, Josh Bibb, Heather Courtney, Starr Minatrea, Josh McEntyre, Valerie Mickels, Brent McIntosh, Brandon McIntosh, Sarah McIntosh and Emma Kate McIntosh; 15 great grandchildren; one sister, Laverne Pierce Bailey; one nephew and several nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one brother, Richard W. Haynes Jr., two sons, William A. "Bill" Haynes Jr. and  Bradley McIntosh.