William Roy Brady, Sr.

William Roy Brady, Sr., was born April 7, 1916, at Piggott. He died at the Piggott Community Hospital Aug. 5, 2003, at age 87, following a brief illness. He was the son of the late Curtis T. and Mary Gossett Brady.

He was united in marriage to Alma Ruth Nettles on July 22, 1939, in Piggott. To this union two children were born.

He was saved at the age of 14 and united with Wanderer's Home Missionary Baptist Church, which ordained him as a deacon in 1945. He later answered God's call to the ministry and preached his first message on Christmas Eve 1950. He pastored several churches in the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Association. His last pastorate was at the New Home Missionary Baptist Church in Marmaduke, where he served from Oct. 1981 to Oct. 2002. His membership was there. He served the Association as a clerk from 1955 to 1960 and as moderator from 1961 to 1986.

He was a member of the Piggott Masonic Lodge 545, where he had served as chaplain for 35 years. He was presented the highest honor the Grand Lodge of Arkansas awards to a member of the Masonic fraternity, the "Pillars of Solomon". He was an honorary Worshipful Master of Piggott Lodge 545.

His survivors include his wife of 64 years, Alma Ruth Brady of the home; one son, William Roy Brady, Jr., and wife, Dorothy, of Dry Prong, La.; one daughter, Mary Lou Richardson and husband, Virgil, of Corning; five grandchildren, William Roy Brady, III, and wife, Becky of Pineville, La., Beth Pittman and husband, Paul, of Carrollton, Tx., Sarah Richardson of Alexander, Ark., Dianna Richardson-Burdette and husband, Michael, of Corning and Laura Shipman and husband, Bobby, Jr., of Jonesboro; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Francis Brady of Piggott; two sisters, Verna Smith of Poplar Bluff and Bessie Ridgeway of Palm Harbor, Fla.; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, infant Russell Brady, Frank Settlemoir and Fred Brady and one sister, Agnes Owens.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Mike Chadwick and Bro. Eddie Gene Wright officiating. Burial followed in the New Hope Cemetery in Pollard.

Pallbearers were Billy Brady, Paul Pittman, Bobby Shipman, Jr., Michael Burdette, Neil Brady and Meredith Brady.

Honorary pallbearers were all the preachers and deacons of the Arkansas State Association of Missionary Baptist Churches and Masonic brothers. Masonic services were held at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7.