BILLIE BURGESS BROWN, 89 years of age of Chapmanville, WV, formerly of Roseann, Virginia, passed away Sunday, February 13, 2011 at the Logan General Hospital following a brief illness.  Born in Matewan, WV, he was the son of the late Clarence and Ollie Mae Dehart Brown.  He was a member of the 1^st Presbyterian Church in Williamson, WV, a retired Electrician having worked for Carbon Industries and a former employee of Leckie Coal Company/Panther Coal Company at Roseann, Virginia.  He was a member of the United States Marines during WWII having served on the USS Iowa.  While serving on the USS Iowa, he participated in the following operations: Marshall Islands, Truk Atoll, the strike against the Caroline Islands, Wake Island, New Guinea, Mariannas Islands, Philippines, Formosa and Ryukyus and the Battle of the Philippines Sea.  While in service, he served as the Honor Guard for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt at his home in Warm Springs, Georgia when he passed away.  Earlier that year, he served as a guard for President Roosevelt when he traveled on the USS Iowa to the Yalta Conference meeting with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.  He was a member of the first graduating class of Hurley High School in 1939 and has the distinction as the first male graduate at Hurley High School.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Jessie Sue Barnard Brown of Chapmanville, WV, Two Sons: William Bill and his wife Lola Ann Gratta Brown Jr., Chapmanville, WV, Sherman E. Brown, Williamson, WV, Three sisters: Margaret Wallace, Roseann, VA, Mary Alice Cline, Roseann, VA, Bonnie and her husband Tommy Justus, Hurley, VA, Four Brothers: Jerry and his wife Phyllis Brown, Bluefield, VA, Danny and his wife Louise Brown, Abingdon, VA, Jack and his wife Bernice Brown, Roseann, VA, Clarence and his wife Betty Ann Brown Jr., Hurley, VA, Two special grandchildren: Justin and his wife Sydney Thornhill Brown, Logan, WV, William B. and his wife Lori Ooten Brown III, Danville, WV, One special Great-Grandson: Joshua Brown, Chapmanville, WV

He was preceded in death by one son – Michael K. Brown; Two Brothers – Bobby Eugene Brown and James Roy Brown.

Funeral services for BILLIE BURGESS BROWN will be conducted Wednesday, February 16, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Vaughn Smith and Rev. Curtis Stacy officiating with burial to follow in the Clinch Valley Memorial Cemetery in Richlands, VA.

Friends may call at the Grundy Funeral Home after 10:00 A.M. Wednesday Morning.

Active Pallbearers will be Nephews.

Full military rites will be conducted at the cemetery by members of the Childs Gentry Post #7360 of the Veterans of Foreign War.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.grundyfuneralhome.com

Grundy, Funeral Home of Grundy, Virginia is in charge of all arrangements.