If you were lucky enough to sit with William A. Brown for even a few minutes, you'd walk away with a story—one he lived, one he told, or one he helped create.

He began his story on July 7, 1929, in Elk Township, New Jersey, born to William and Elizabeth Brown. As he grew, he collected names the way some people collect souvenirs. "Billy" in the early years. "Bill," "Brown," and "Brownie" as he carved out his place in the world. "Dad," "Pop‑Pop," "Grandpop," and "Uncle Bill" as his family tree stretched wide. Each name marked a different season of his life, a different role he played with love.

Faith was the thread woven through every chapter. Raised in the legacy of his grandparents, James and Annabelle Harris—two of the first members of St. Paul's Baptist Church, Clayton—Bill stepped into their footsteps with purpose. He became the church's oldest and longest‑serving member, a steady presence who sang, served, and cared for the grounds as if tending sacred soil.

Then came 1951, when the Army drafted him into a story far from home. He spent nearly two years - 1 year, 11 months and 13 days to be exact - serving in the Korean War, carrying with him a humor that never dimmed. He loved retelling the moment he sat on the ship leaving San Francisco to Korea, turned to the man beside him, and said, "We might as well jump now, because we're not coming back." But he did come back—and the world gained seventy‑plus years of his laughter, wisdom, and strength.

When retirement from the trucking and freight transportation industry came after 25 years, Bill chose joy. He had seen too many people wait too long to live, so he retired early to fish at sunrise, play Otis Redding until the speakers knew every note, watch his favorite shows like old friends, and fill his days with the people he loved most. He lived with intention, savoring the simple things that made life sweet.

He leaves behind his wife of 67 years, Laura (Ragsdale); his daughter, Tracy; nine grandchildren, Trevor Fraley, Torrey and William "Ali" Brooks, Monakay Brooks Golden,  Lateaqua "Angel" Bullard, Aaron, Tyrone, and Chauncy Wilson; eighteen great‑grandchildren; eleven great‑great‑grandchildren; and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He joins in rest the loved ones who went before him – his parents; his sisters, Elizabeth (Brown) Blueford and Cynthia Brown; his sons, Larry Brooks (Phyllis) and William "Scotty" Brown (Mauretha); his grandson, Larry Brooks and great-granddaughter, Tasia Brooks - completing a family story that spans generations.

Bill's legacy is not just remembered—it is felt. In the laughter he inspired, the faith he lived, the kindness he offered, and the integrity he carried like a banner. His story continues in every life he  touched.