When Welburn Howell Secrest was born on 5 October 1889, in Carlisle, Nicholas, Kentucky, United States, his father, Alfred G "Allie" Secrest, was 30 and his mother, Lucy Mary Buckler, was 31. He married Zilla Margaret Mae Chance on 10 October 1914, in Weber, Utah, United States. He lived in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States in 1930. He died on 19 June 1971, in Duval, Florida, United States, at the age of 81, and was buried in Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States.