W.G. "Son" Brown

Walter G. "Son" Brown, Jr., age 85, of Artesia, MS, passed away January 4, 2017, at his residence.  Funeral services will be Sunday, January 8, 2017, at 1:00 PM at the Crawford United Methodist Church with Bro. Daniel Talley officiating.  The interment will immediately follow at Oak Limb Cemetery in Crawford.  Visitation will be Saturday, January 7, 2017 , from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home.

Mr. Brown was born September 5, 1931, in Ethelsville, AL, to the late Walter Goodlow and Hattie West Brown, Sr.  He joined the Navy in 1951, then married his sweetheart, Shirley Gentry, on February 25, 1953.  He served during the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Ingersoll where he crossed the equator twice in service to his country.  After his military service he returned home and enjoyed a 22- year career with the GM&O and ICG Railroads. Together with his wife he owned Gentry Roofing and Sheet Metal Company in Starkville, MS, until his retirement in 1995.

Mr. Brown was a longtime member of the Crawford United Methodist Church.  He loved people, loved to talk, and was very knowledgeable of many things.  He was an avid follower of MS State Baseball, enjoyed camping, and loved traveling.  Most of all, he loved his family, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Walter "Bub" Brown and two sons-in-law.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Gentry Brown, daughters, Bunny Atkins and Dee King, grandchildren, Addie Talley (Daniel), Anna Atkins, Mollie Von Kanel (Matt), Katie Shappley (Cody), and Walter King (Jennifer), 9 great grandchildren, brother, Gene Brown (Mavis), and a host of extended family.

Pallbearers will be Cody Shappley, Josh Gentry, Walter King, Larry Caldwell, Gerry Gentry, James "Gip" Gipson, Mark Bolin, Danny "Danny Boy" Taylor, Matt Von Kanel and Gabe Talley.

Honorary pallbearers will be Vera Dantzler, George Gerhart, Dan Taylor, Tommy Tomlinson, Jack Wallace, Paul Massey, Tony Miles, Ray Hollis, David Foster, Jimmy Fulgham, Shelton Jones, John McMurray, Walt Wycoft, Robert Earl James, Aubrey Langford, Hubert Wayne Buchanan, Gerald and Jewel Gentry, Lee Lott, Sarah Naugher, Brenda Gentry, Dr. John Whitecar, Dr. James Woodard, Dr. James Long, Dr. Barry Bertolet, Morgan Taylor, Lindsey Crimm,  Dr. Susan Taylor, Dr. Brett Brown, Vickie Sanford, nurses and staff of Gentiva Home Health & Hospice, nurses and staff of Cardiology and the men and women of Crawford United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to Oak Limb Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 167, Crawford, MS, 39743.<iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/727XSPJWS6G4LHHK" width="512"></iframe>