Mr. Willie Brown

BROWN, Mr. Willie - Age 66, passed away Sunday, November 22, 2015 at Hurley Medical Center. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2015 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Theron S. Wiggins, Officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Brown will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday. Mr. Willie Brown was born September 18, 1949 in Marianna, Arkansas to Mr. & Mrs. Sam H. and Ruby L. Brown and was the first born of eight children. Willie attended Flint Public Schools, graduating from the “Old” Northern High School, “Class of 1967”. He was employed with A.C. Spark Plug, a division of General Motors, retiring after 30 years of service. Willie was an avid sports fan; The Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons being 2 of his favorites. He also had a love for the Atlanta Braves but the Detroit Tigers held his heart, and he was sure to attend all the home games. Willie was a world traveler; he visited Australia, Brazil, France, England and Rio de Janeiro where he could take in all the different cultures and various blends of music. He also loved cars new and old, but especially old antique cars, some of his favorites included the 1956 Buick Century and the 1978 Lincoln Continental. He had a passion for music, Willie loved listening to Jazz and R&B. His favorite musicians being West Montgomery and Jimmie Smith, but nobody could be greater in his eyes than Lou Rawls. He had such an eye for the world around him, Willie was a classy man; dressing in the latest styles and it all had to coordinate. Willie was very articulate and loved to talk. He would talk to you for hours about current events, sports and family. He cherished his family, most of all, his mother after the passing of his father. He was a compassionate, selfless person who was always willing to help people close to him. Willie genuinely cared about everyone’s feelings and wanted to please everyone he loved. One day he had an idea that would bring everyone in the neighborhood closer together and in 1970 he made his dream a reality. Willie built a basketball court right in the neighborhood. Everyone from blocks away from the North side of Flint would come to play including celebrities, Trent Tucker and Dennis Johnson, to name a few. To this day the court still stands for the next generations of children to play. Mr. Willie Brown leaves to cherish his memory mother, Ruby Lee Brown; brothers, Sam H. Brown Jr., Zackary and Clarence (Tammy) Brown; sisters, Patricia (Kenny) Buckner and Ursena (Andre) Jackson; nieces, Dionna, Fatima, Kamilah, Zakiyyah, Khadijah, Kamisha, Kareema, Shania, and Khalidah; nephews, Andre (Betty), Brandon, Dion (Tiffany), Ezra Jr., Dartanion, Kerry, Clavonte, Khalil, and Dakari; a host of good neighbors, other relatives and friends including special friends, Mikki, Freda Ratliff-Williams, D’Andre Williams, Ronald Johnson, “Flick” the A.C. Spark Plug family, the neighbors on Barth St. and a special shout out to “Shelby Hood”. He was preceded in death by father, Sam H. Brown, Sr., sister, Sandrette Gray; brother, Ezra Brown, Sr.; aunt, Clementine Oroke; cousin, Leslie Johnson; and nephew, Roger L. Williams, Jr.

Mr. Willie Brown

September 18, 1949 - November 22, 2015