William Brown, Jr.

William Randolph Brown Jr.

William Randolph (Randy”) Brown Jr., aged 74, passed away on January 11, 2022, in Mesquite Texas. Randy was born on September 5, 1947, in Dallas Texas to William Randolph Sr. and Clemma Gwendolyn McDaniel Brown. Randy was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he attended St. Andrews Elementary, Catholic Central High School, and Ottawa Hills High School, from which he graduated in 1965. After high school, Randy attended Grand Rapids Junior College, where he was a member of the football team. In 1967, Randy enlisted, served, and was honorably discharged in 1969 from the United States Air Force.

In November 1973, Randy married Edwina Jean Aikens of Muskegon, Michigan with whom he bore four children – sons William Shawntel Brown (Rico), twins Reginald and Randall Brown, and daughter Martekia Brown (Tekie). For the next 40 years Randy worked as a construction and assembly laborer in both Grand Rapids and Dallas, including locations such as Reunion Arena in Dallas and Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.

Randy was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Edwina Jean, and his son Randall. He is survived by his eldest son William Shawntel (Tamyria), his son Reginald (Shasta), and his daughter Martekia, all of the Dallas Metropolitan area; sister Bettye Higgins of Grand Rapids; brothers Dr. Carl Brown (Linda) of Buckeye AZ, Mark Brown (Cheryl) of Denver, Colorado, and Dr. Michael Brown (Jennifer) of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey as well as grandsons Randall Brown, LeDaun and LaShaun Hunt, and Ahmath Gapan Brown, and granddaughters Shawntre, Centre, Shamyria, and Rahmahja Brown, all of the metropolitan Dallas area. Additionally, Randy is survived by a host of nieces, nephews and cousins of the Brown and McDaniel families as well as numerous lifelong friends in the Grand Rapids and Dallas areas.

He is remembered with love for his acerbic wit, his everlasting kindness beneath the gruff exterior and his unconditional love for family and friends far and wide.