Brother Willie Roy France, Jr., departed this life on December 6, 2023, at McGuire Veterans Hospital, Richmond, VA. He was born June 30, 1937, in Opelika, Alabama, the fourth of six children, born to the late Willie Roy France, Sr. and Mary Lou (Willis) France.

Brother France was a member of GENESIS 9, the Seventh Line (Winter 88) named Genesis which tells of the beginning according to the Old Testament. Genesis was the first Scroller Club of the chapter to have nine members united as one. Their program was also the beginning of the first four-week pledge period.

Brother France’s life was marked by his achievements and devotion to service. He joined the United States Army in May 1956, and retired as an E-8 Master Sergeant in 1982, after 26 years of service. Brother France’s quest for lifelong learning led him to earn his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Resources Administration from St. Leo University. After retirement from the military, he worked as a civilian federal employee for the Department of the Army in Logistics at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, until he retired from federal service in March 2000. In 1988, he was initiated into the Fort Gregg-Adams (VA) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., an honor that he cherished as a lifetime member. He accepted Christ at an early age and later joined the fellowship at Saint Paul’s Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Brother France was preceded in death by his parents; eldest brother, K.L. France; and sister, Oleta (France) Turner. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 36 years, Stella France; children, Brian France, Charmaine Morton, Oleta France, and Karee Payton; granddaughters, Patricia Morton, and Aria France-Davis; three siblings, Simuel France, Elizabeth (France) Parham, and Walter France; daughter-in-law, Veronica France; dedicated and longtime friends and neighbors from the Berkley Manor Neighborhood and a grand village of nieces, nephews, cousins, and fraternity brothers.

Brother France was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on with those who knew and loved him.
He was buried at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia, VA.