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.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Crouch Funeral Home
405 Peabody
Mountain View, AR  72560
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com