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Obituary for William Chandler "Bill" Brunson, Sr.
William Chandler “Bill” Brunson, Sr., 97, went peacefully into the arms of his Lord on February 19, 2018. Bill was born on December 17, 1920 in West Point, Mississippi to the late Leo Lawrence Brunson and the late Jessie Rice Brunson. Growing up during the Great Depression, his family moved several times but spent a large portion of Bill’s youth in Meridian, Mississippi before moving permanently to Jackson when he was nine years old. Being an enterprising young man, Bill worked at numerous odd jobs from an early age and managed a large paper route until he graduated from Central High School in 1939. While at Central, Bill was voted Most Handsome and was Class Treasurer during his senior year. After graduation Bill took a job with the Insurance Rating Bureau which provided a foundation for his lifelong career in casualty insurance. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor during which his first cousin, Bill Rice, was killed, Bill volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps which became known as the U.S. Air Force following the war. Bill volunteered three times to fight overseas but his administrative skills such as bookkeeping, typing and office management made him too useful to deploy. Bill served from February, 1942 until December, 1945. He received an honorable discharge as Staff Sergeant. Bill returned from the service to marry and begin a new life with Eleanor Maxine “Mickey” Green whom he met before the war. He then resumed his position with the Insurance Rating Bureau. Bill later left the Rating Bureau and went to work for Reid-McGee Insurance, a general agency and brokerage firm which he managed for the remainder of his career. In 1949 he joined First Baptist Church and was ordained as a deacon in 1958. He obtained life status as a deacon in 2004. Bill was an avid hunter, fisherman and golfer being on the golf course weekly until in his 90’s. He was co-founder of the Buck ‘n Wing Hunting Club which was active for over 50 years. He was a charter member of Colonial Country Club and a 32nd Degree Freemason of the Scottish Rite. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mickey, and is survived by his two children Cynthia Lynn “Cindy” of Madison, Mississippi and William C. “Bill” Brunson, Jr. (Patricia) of Austin, Texas, grandchildren John Michael Brunson, Matthew David Brunson, Sarah Elizabeth Wheeler and Anna Ruth McCormack, and great grandchildren Scout Elizabeth Wheeler and Weston Roycells Wheeler. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude for the loving home care given in the last years of Bill’s life by Teresa Brown, Gevone Dixon and Delores Calvin of Merry Heart Personal Care. We would also like to thank StaHome Home Care and Hospice for their excellent help which made it possible for Bill to pass away comfortably at home. This was his desire after he gave up his original dream of dying mid-swing on the golf course. Friends and family are invited for visitation at the First Baptist Church of Jackson on Wednesday, February 21st at 9:30 a.m. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of First Baptist Church Chapel of Jackson, the Rev. Tom Washburn, officiating. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church or French Camp Academy.
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