Funeral Service for Rev. William F. Brown. Monday, July 6, 2015 10:00am. Greater Ephesus Miss. Baptist Church. 50 Cleveland Ave. SW. Interment GA National Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 11am-5pm. Rev. William Brown, age 71, entered into eternal rest at Emory University Hospital in Decatur, GA on Sunday, June 28, 2015. “He fought a good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith”.

Born July 24, 1946, in Smoaks, South Carolina, he spent his formative years in Brooklyn, NY. He was educated in the New York City public schools and graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens, NY. He served in the military for two years.

William, the son of the late Joseph and Dorothy Ann Brown was the middle sibling of three children. His parents were strong role models and instilled Christian values in all three children. At an early age, Rev. Brown accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Rev. Brown was a volunteer prison chaplain for the Georgia Department of Corrections. He is the founder and Executive Officer for Georgia First Step Transitional Academy, Inc., a prisoner’s re-entry program with emphasis on “responsible fatherhood”; housing revitalization; the Genesis Project and healthy marriage intervention for low income families. In addition, Rev. Brown worked with the DeKalb County State Court and Judge Johnny Panos in an initiative designed to assist young adults with obtaining their high school diplomas. Project Achieve is a successful court sponsored program which allows participants an opportunity to receive their G.E.D. in lieu of a criminal conviction on their records. Rev. Brown collaborated with police departments, schools, county and local leaders as well as governmental agencies in response to youth gangs, truancy, crime, fatherhood and prison reform. A motivational speaker and licensed master trainer by the N.P.C.L. Council in Washington, DC. Rev. Brown conducted life skills, mentoring and counseling sessions for his students. Rev. Brown was a man of God. He loved to read and quote the Bible. Prayer was paramount in his life. Regardless of one’s religious beliefs – Rev. Brown prayed for one and all.

Rev. Brown’s parents: Joseph Sr. and Dorothy Ann Brown as well as his siblings, Joseph Brown Jr. and Vuel Davis preceded him in death

A legacy of unity and family love is now left to behold… his daughter, Conquesta (Cedric) Drakes; stepdaughter, Sipporah (Michael) Hawkins; six grandchildren; DeAundre Sampson, DeAunte Grannum, Keenen and Aniyah Drakes, Christopher and Michael Hawkins. Fiancée Deyanira Moreland; ex-wife, Brenda Brown; special friend Alma Blackmon, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Grissom-Clark F.H. 404-373-3191. www.grissom-clarkfh.com