Mr. Willie James "Big Willie" Brandon Jr., age 66, died on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, at his home.
Mr. Brandon, born June 23, 1938, was the son of Willie James Brandon Sr. and Mable McCraney Brandon. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Christine Cheers; six sons, Willie James Brandon Jr., Larry Brandon and Eric Brandon, all of Forrest City, Ricky Brandon of Millington, Tenn., and Corey Cheers and Antonio Cheers, both of Marianna; seven daughters, Juantina Brandon and Nicole Cheers, both of Marianna, Tammy Smith of Misaw Air Force Base in Japan, Patricia Copeland of Oceanside, Calif., Felicia Fields and Felisa Robinson, both of Forrest City and Charlotte Wright of Nashville, Tenn.; a sister, Barbara Allen of Chicago, Ill.; 31 grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Visitation for Mr. Brandon will be held on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Marianna Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at 11 a.m. at New Bethel M.B. Church in Marianna.