Coach Brown, 88, passed away at John C. Stennis Hospital late Thursday evening, August 18, 2022.
He graduated from DeKalb High School in 1952 where he played all sports and was selected “Most Popular” his senior year. Coach attended East Mississippi Junior College where he played for Coach Bob “Bull” Sullivan and was elected one of the “Most Handsome”. He went on to Livingston State College, played football and received his BS degree. He played football while in the Army and later earned his M.E. from Mississippi State University.
Coach Billy Brown began his coaching career at Shuqualak in 1959, where he coached all sports for boys and girls. He coached one year of football at Okalona and five years at Nanih Waiya coaching all sports. At Nanih Waiya, his teams had winning seasons in all sports.
He came back home to DeKalb in 1967, where he coached for twenty-five years serving as Athletic Director, football coach, and coach for girl’s junior high basketball and boys and girls track. His first year, he led DeKalb’s football team to their first winning season in five years. In 1970, the name was changed to West Kemper, later to Kemper County High School to finish out his career.
Coach Brown served on the MHSAA committee during which the first football playoff system was started and his team won nine out of twelve district titles. In 1977 he was selected as a coach for the North MS All-Star football game. In 1990, Coach was inducted in the MS Association of Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2002, he was inducted into the EMCC Sports Hall of Fame. After 33 years of coaching in the Public School System, he retired three seasons and then coached football at Kemper Academy for two years.
Coach Brown has been an active member of DeKalb Baptist Church since moving back to DeKalb in 1967. He has served as Deacon, Sunday School teacher, usher and executive board member of the Kemper Baptist Association.
Coach Brown loved his ball players and had this sign in his Field House: “My Lord, My Parents, My School, My Team and then Me.”
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Frances; sons Bill (Melinda), Bud (Karen) and daughter, Penny Pearson (Chuck); five grandsons, Ross (Lauren), Clint (Jessie), Hunter and Reid Brown and Cody Pearson; six great grandchildren Ann Rivers, Collins and Mary Hampton Brown, Easton ,and Kruze Kennedy and William “Will” Powell Brown; brother, Alex Lee “Bud” Brown and nephew, Lee Brown of Louisville, Mississippi.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Puckett Brown Sr., Arch Hammack and Leota Hopper Brown Hammack.
Memorials may be made to Center Ridge Baptist Cemetery Maintenance or Church or to DeKalb Baptist Church.
The family would like to extend appreciation to Dr. Bennett, his heart doctor and John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital Staff. Friends may sign the online register at www.webbstephens.com.