Mr. William “Bill” Brown, age 88, of Osyka, Mississippi, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 at his residence.

Mr. Bill was born in June 1931 in Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, to his parents, John Wesley and Julia Belle Brown.

A graduate of Bogue Chitto High School, he served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

In 1950, he began working for the Illinois Central (ICR) in New Orleans. His railroad career spanned several decades, moving to locations including Memphis, Tennessee; Paducah, Kentucky; and Champaign and Chicago, Illinois. He retired from the ICR with 44 years of service and settled in Osyka, Mississippi. The year 1950 was also special because he married the love of his life, Shirley Ann. Together, they raised three daughters in a Christian home in New Orleans. They were married 69 years.

Bill was an active member of Riverside Baptist Church in New Orleans, serving as chairman of the deacons and Sunday School superintendent. He was also an active member of Line Creek Baptist Church in Kentwood, previously serving as a deacon there as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Wesley Brown and Julia Belle Brown Wallace; one sister, Eva Patterson and a twin brother, Robert Brown.

Surviving are his wife, Shirley, and three daughters: Janet Petri of Tomah, Wisconsin; Connie Heflin (Larry) of Boaz, Kentucky; and Brenda Griffith (Don) of Madisonville, Kentucky; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Lena Culpepper of Bogalusa, Louisiana, Barbara King of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi; two brothers, Malcolm Wallace and Winston Wallace (Beverly), both of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi; sister-in-law, Helen Brown of Jackson, Mississsippi; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at Line Creek Baptist Church, 78659 LA 1053 Kentwood, Louisiana, 70444, from 5 until 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until services at 11 a.m. with Bro. Justin Craft officiating. Burial will follow in Line Creek Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Line Creek Baptist Church Building Fund.