Willis James (Sonny) Braxton Jr. peacefully departed this life on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at his home in Urbanna.
He was born Feb. 16, 1936 to the late Willis and Odessa Braxton in Remlik. He attended Middlesex County Public Schools, then as an adult he moved to New Rochelle, N.Y.
He married Rosemary Hill and to that union Debra Denise Braxton was born. She died in 2012. Besides his parents and daughter, he was preceded in death by his brother, Theodore “Teddy” Braxton; brother-in-law, James Whiting Sr.; and nephew, James Whiting Jr.
Sonny is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Urbanna; stepdaughter, Fatima Hargrove (Jermaine); four grandchildren of Richmond; sisters, Gertrude Whiting of Columbia, S.C. and Lilly Beatrice Braxton, North Chesterfield; sister-in-law, Helen “Chickie” Braxton, Deer Park, N.Y.; brother-in-law, Horrace Briggs; and uncle-in-law, Charles Roane, Richmond; cousin, Deloris Lee (Boston), Virginia Beach; and a host of relatives and loving friends.
A homegoing service is planned for Friday, June 24 at Antioch Baptist Church, Saluda, with viewing at 11 a.m., followed by the funeral at noon. Interment will be in the church cemetery. The Rev. Fred D. Holmes Jr. will officiate.
