Willie Brown Jr.

Willie Brown, Jr. 73, was born December 8, 1950, out of the union of Daisy Lee Brown Hooper and Willie Brown, Sr. in Friars Point, Mississippi.

Willie moved to Chicago at 18 where he met and developed a friendship with Helen Mae Swarn 13 in 1968. The years if friendship resulted in their union in 1973. The couple moved to Champaign in 1981. He received a nursing degree at worked at Americana Nursing Home for several years. He also was a truck driver before retiring from Kraft Foods

Who was Willie Brown, Jr? He was also known as Buddy, Brown and Mr. Willie. He was special to all of us. He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, uncle and friend. His life showed where his devotion laid. A true family man and hero.

 He leaves to cherish his loving memory his wife, Helen Mae Brown; three children, Alexander Brown, Henrietta (Devon) Brown Craig and Willesha (Henry) White; a brother, Melvin (Betty) Brown; three sisters, Lendia Mines, Vanessa Poindexter and Yolanda B. Gillam; 11 grandchildren, Alexis, Keyteara, Laneisha, Latez, Alize, Angelo Brown; Vaiya Hunt, Christopher Hamilton, Diamond Craig, Zyanna Craig; Benitra Ayres, D’Aira King, Assata and Henry White; 24 great grandchildren; a sister/cousin, Dale Evans; special daughter-in-law, Marie Brown, and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, a brother, Marvin Brown; a sister, Joethel Brown, two nephews, Robert Woods and Lazarus Marshall and a great granddaughter, Kamiya Jai Joy. *

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 Noon Monday September 30, 2024 at Evangelist Mary E. Gwin Christian Center 1109 North Fourth Street  – Champaign.

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