William Fleming Browning Jr.

Mr. William Fleming Browning, Jr. passed away Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at Mercy Medical in Daphne, Alabama after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, and in the presence of family. Services will be 11:00am on Friday, November 4, 2011 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS. Visitation will start at 9:30 am, with interment in Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

Mr. Browning was born September 22, 1926, in Lynchburg, Virginia, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fleming Browning (Allene Lee Holloway). He graduated from E. C. Glass High School. He is a veteran of World War II, in which he served in the 184th Infantry, 7th division. While in service, he received the good conduct, WW II Victory, and Occupation Korea medals. He received his Honorable Discharge on December 7, 1946. He married Jacqulin Henrietta Hall on November 27, 1948. They made their first home, and welcomed the birth of their only son, in Charlottesville, Virginia where Mr. Browning was attending and earned his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts in Geology from the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, the Browning family moved to Pueblo, CO where Mr. Browning began working for Shell Oil Company and attended the Colorado School of Mines.

Mr. Browning and his family moved to Jackson, MS in 1953. He graduated with his L.L.B. from the Jackson School of Law, and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar Association in 1963. In 1965, he and Mr. Stewart Welch created, Browning and Welch, Inc., an independent oil and gas exploration and consulting company, where he served as President and worked until his retirement. He was a member of a number of geological and legal organizations, and served as secretary and vice president of the Mississippi Geological Society and was certified by the American Institute of Professional Geologists.

Mr. Browning was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, in Jackson, MS, and was a member of The Mississippi Chorus. He loved the beach, and was an avid golf, bridge and tennis player. He was a member of The Country Club of Jackson, a charter member of River Hills Country Club, and belonged to the First and Third Tuesday bridge club. He loved and was loved by many friends, and most of all by his family. His favorite sayings were: “Papa loves you”, “Thumbs Up”, “V for victory”, and “Salute!”

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Charles Browning, and his wife. He is survived by his son, William Fleming Browning, III, his wife Laurie, and grandson, William Fleming Browning, IV, of Point Clear, AL, granddaughters; Angela Montgomery and her husband Joey of Fairhope, AL; Kimberly Walker of Brandon, MS;, and Cheryl McInnis and her husband Winn of Flowood, MS; great-grandchildren; Alden McInnis, Jacquelyn Walker, Guyton Walker, Brennan McInnis, and Taylor McInnis; Sister in law, Doris Browning; niece, Karen Duffy; nephews, Chuck Browning, and Todd Browning of Hollywood, Florida.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 196 Charmant Drive, Suite 4, Ridgeland, MS 39157 or to Christ United Methodist Church, 6000 Old Canton Rd., Jackson, MS 39211.