Donald Ray Brown Jr., affectionately known as “D.J.,” was born on April 29, 1980, in Baltimore, Md., to Donald Ray Brown Sr. and Emily Blackburn Brown. He departed this early world on Sunday morning, Nov. 25, 2018, in Dallas, Texas.

D.J. graduated from Bogalusa High School in 1999 and Grambling State University in 2005.

D.J. was baptized at an early age at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

D.J. leaves to cherish his memories: his father, Donald Ray Brown Sr.; brothers, Anthony Watterson Brown, David (Shonda) Watterson Brown, both of Houston, Texas, Jarvis (Shelia) Blackburn of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Cedric Blackburn of Dallas; grandmother, Jessie Hendricks Blackburn of Bogalusa; aunts, Jennifer Brown-Guillory of Baton Rouge, Rosie Johnson of Bogalusa, L.A. Marie B. (Alvin) Archie of Slidell, Nelda Faye (William) Mathis of Dallas; and uncles, Edward Charles Brown of Houston, Douglas Brown of Allen, Texas, Carl Brown Jr. and Reginald Brown of Baton Rouge and Warren Blackburn of Lafayette; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Emily Blackburn; maternal grandfather, Emery Blackburn; paternal grandparents, Carl and Naomi Brown; uncles, Emery Jr. and Kermit Blackburn; maternal grandmother, Rosie Brown; and paternal grandparents, Thomas Harvey and Zena Jefferson.

The funeral service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 2, at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Bogalusa, with the Rev. Christopher Matthews officiating.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements. Sign the guestbook online at www.crainandsons.com.