September 29, 1948 - June 22, 2018
Virgil Ray Brawley Jr. was described as being ''larger than life.'' He began a new journey beyond this world June 22, 2018. Virgil ''Big Juv'' Brawley was born in Brookhaven, MS on Sept. 29, 1948 to Dorothy Case Brawley & Virgil Ray Brawley Sr. Virgil learned to love horses & blues music as a child in the stables with his dad & the transistor radio tuned to WNOE New Orleans. He began playing guitar in Brookhaven ''garage bands'' as a teenager then went on to play ''Brookstock'' in his hometown every summer with friends & classmates. Virgil served in the Army as a sergeant in Vietnam where he was stationed in a long-range reconnaissance platoon as a sniper. He was highly decorated with numerous medals including two Bronze Stars & an Army Accommodation Medal with Valor. Upon returning to MS, Virgil attended Co-Lin Community College, then received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio, Television & Film from University of Southern MS. In the 1970's he was a sound engineer with touring bands throughout the South. In 1980 he moved to Carmeen, Texas where he owned a small ranch & trained horses. There his son Travis was born. Travis was the light of his life. Virgil returned to MS in 1996 where he became well known as an outstanding blues guitarist, soloist & lyricist. His band, the Juvenators, received outstanding reviews for their hard driving Texas, Chicago, West Coast & Delta blues sound. In 2000 Virgil married Anne Sullivan, his soulmate & biggest fan. The Brawley's church home in Jackson is Northminster Baptist Church where they have been nurtured & embraced. They moved to Mt View, AR where Virgil found the opportunity to play at the Ozark Folk Center with his acoustic band, Flat Broke & to perform hill country blues throughout the Ozarks with the Syllamo Trio. Virgil recorded three albums with the Juvenators, one solo record, two compilation albums, and one album with the Syllamo Trio.
Above all, Virgil Brawley never met a stranger. He loved people & took a genuine interest in the lives of those around him. He never quit dreaming & reaching for those dreams. He will be greatly missed by his brothers from the music community, his many friends & his family. We are all immensely grateful & better folks for having known him.
Virgil is survived by his wife Anne, his son Travis, Travis' mom Ellen Gerland, sisters Pat Jackson (Jimmy), Barbara Lindsay (Thomas) & Beckie Callender (Darrell), nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother & one sister.
There will be visitation at Roller Crouch Funeral Home in Mt. View, AR at 10:00AM Wednesday followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00AM as well as a 3:00 PM visitation at Northminster Baptist Church followed by a Service at 4:00 PM on Sunday, July 8th. A Blues Jam in his honor will be held that evening.
The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Magnolia Speech School, 733 Flag Chapel Drive in Jackson, MS 39209.
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24 Condolence(s)
Tom Olson
Friday, February 17, 2023
I just googled Virgil this morning and was somewhat supposed to find out all this info.
I served with him in VN in 1970. He was called “Claymore “ because he put his Claymore mine out backwards a couple of weeks before someone noticed. We came back “safe†after the very mission.
joe sewell (BUBBA )
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
just found out my long time friend virgil has passed, i am heartbroken, i was in carmeen when travis was a little baby boy and would love to talk with anne or travis..please contact me, i'm sittin here with my guitar singin to big juv right now....bubba
Suzanne and Pat Vivier
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Anne, we are thinking of you and praying for you and your family. May the peace of our Lord be with you.
Jimmy Dettore
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
My deepest condolences to Ann and Travis. Virgil will be dearly missed but greatly remembered. I loved this man like a brother and a father. God bless
John Charles Robinson
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Very sad to hear about Virgil. He was as good as they come - a guy with a big heart. He will be missed.
JR
Bryan Greg See
Monday, June 25, 2018
Dear Anne, I was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Virgil passing. I was first introduced by Mike L Smith in 1972 and I later lived in the apartments behind Virgil and Mike on NW Street in Jackson. We became life long friends and I will always cherish his friendship and all the great memories. My thoughts and prayers are with you and Travis.
Shondra Vance Cole
Monday, June 25, 2018
What an incredible man I've had the privilege to know for over half my life now. Always the largest smile and the best stories to tell, there simply is no other like The Big Juv. I imagine the sounds in Heaven are grander now that he is there. Anne and Travis, you have been in our constant prayers since Daddy called Friday morning...we send our love your way, and will see you soon. Shondra and Lloyd
Mark Cloer
Monday, June 25, 2018
Saddened to hear the news. Had some ancient history with Virgil hanging around N West Street in Jackson in the ‘70’s. He was easy to like and will be missed. Rip brother!
Larry Welch
Monday, June 25, 2018
I met Virgil in the 70's when he traveled with our band, th' Rugbys. What a guy! Full of life and just a joy to be around. I will never forget you my long time friend. Thanks be to God for His eternal plan.
Jeff Reynolds
Monday, June 25, 2018
A Real Good man Virgil was.
I met him in the late 90’s at the Blues Jam at George Street Grocery in Jackson MS.... as Early Wright once said “ thats a club , not a grocery store “ . He always made everyone around him feel respectfull .He looked for the good in people . When there was bad in someone he could tell you about that too. That was a good quality of him.
I will miss having Virgil here to talk to. I will think about him often . His most memorable quote to me was to a young guitar player one night at the jam when he told the guy to “play two or three notes we can hear And Feel ! Rather than all them notes that are run together real fast and sounds like noise” .
Lucy Jackson
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Annie, There are no words which can express my feelings of sorrow for your loss. Neither are there words to express my love and condolences to you...I lift you up to our Heavenly Father...God Bless You.
Jenny wilson
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Ann, I was so sorry to hear about Virgil. I’ve heard the story about him wanting to learn the dobro and was told he needed to go to Mt. View and learn from my dad (Gene). Both of you have meant so much to our family. May God be with you through the days ahead and know that He will always be by your side, holding your hand. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
janice phillips
Sunday, June 24, 2018
To Virgil's family and friends,
I first met Virgil with my cousin, Joan, riding horses. I remember him as so nice to everyone and that he loved and cared for his horses. We knew him as Brawley Boy . Virgil was one of the good guys always.
Larry Waltman
Sunday, June 24, 2018
so shocked and sadden.
Ronnie Johnston
Sunday, June 24, 2018
It's difficult to exept the fact that I won't see or talk to or jam with Virgil again. I've really missed his company since he moved from Mississippi. To say he was a great friend is such an understatement. So many questions I still had to ask him. My prayers are with his family and friends. May you rest in everlasting peace my brother. Gone but never forgotten.
Lori Rickman
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Virgil was one of the finest people I have ever known. He will be missed by all of us here in Mississippi. Rest easy , my friend
Carole Nicholson
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Brawley Boy, I will miss you. Cousin you were one of the most talented musicians I have been blessed to call my family. Your way of always being able to recall memories of our childhood were amazing. I loved listening and laughing at the details you remembered .
May God wrap you in his loving arms.
Marty Smith
Sunday, June 24, 2018
You were bigger than life, bigger than all of us, i havent been affected like this since ronny died in 2003...some people, you never expect to get THE CALL about , and you were sure one of them. Our friendship went through many cycles, co-lin , when you were fresh from vietnam and still reeling with that experience, to NW Street and Broad St in jackson in the 70s, when my recreation was turning into addiction but we didnt realize it, fast forward to 1996, you had done been married and divorced and i had been through the pits of hell but survived intact, you showed up at my apartment, ready to move back to mississippi and play some blues. And you did. I cant think of one person in my life that touched more people in more ways than you.even folks that just met you, felt it, your presence, your realness. There wont be a day left in my life that i dont hear you say LOOKYHERE MAIN YOU NEED TO......only the sentence wont be finished.i'll see you on the next lap, right around that bend. I love you, my friend, and you too, ann and travis.
BO IVY
Sunday, June 24, 2018
My Thoughts & Prayers are with the entire family and all concern on the passing of my BHS classmate and friend. You have left a'lot of foot prints for a'lot to follow. R.I.P. my friend.
Albee Tellone
Sunday, June 24, 2018
I first me Virgil about 15 years ago when he was a visitor to Mtn. View. He had just bought a small cabin that later became his home in retirement. When he became a permanent resident, he came to me for lessons on the mandolin. I took him to jams around town to help him get comfortable with the instrument. After about a year he came in and told me that he wasn't really "getting it". However, he asked me to go with him to play bass and jam with a drummer he had just met who wanted to play blues - what he loved. It didn't take long that first day to figure out that we had a great chemistry as a band. He and drummer Daren proceeded to write songs together. All of them were high quality. We had a great time recording those songs and really bonded over them. I rode everywhere in Virgil's pickup to practice and gigs. We became best friends, sharing life stories along the many miles we travelled together. I'm sure gonna miss him.
Dennis 'ReRun Mangum
Sunday, June 24, 2018
RIP brother ill see you on the other side
Mark and Mary Flynn Nettles
Sunday, June 24, 2018
I am so sorry that Virgil left us so soon. I have known him all my life and will remember him always❤️❤️❤️ He visited our house often because of my brothers mark and terry. All the Zglyns knew and loved Brawley Boy.
Gregg Woodcox
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Juv, you shonuff will be missed.
Charlotte Bledsoe
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family, Anne. I love you and miss you.