Hattiesburg, MS
Funeral Home
Moore Funeral Home
Visitation
1-3 pm, Thursday, April 9, 2026, Dixie Baptist Church.
Service
3 pm, Thursday, April 9, 2026, Dixie Baptist
Obituary
Military Service Tribute, Honors, and Obituary:
Recognizing and Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”.
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on April 5, 2026, and has moved on to his heavenly home. Retired Sergeant First Class William Franklin Downs, age 87, Hattiesburg, MS who served in the Shelby ISU and had worked fulltime at the Shelby CSMS has departed and gone to a better place with our Lord and Savior.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism, sacrifices, and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright, and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
Another great Soldier has gone home, “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten, Soldier for Life”.
Obituary, visitation and service details:
William Franklin Downs, 87, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Forrest General Hospital. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the Dixie Baptist Church with interment in Dixie Baptist Church Cemetery to follow.
Franklin was a member of the Dixie Baptist Church. He served his Country by joining the U. S. Marine Corps and then later, joined the Mississippi Army National Guard until his retirement. For many years, he was a farmer and in his spare time enjoyed hunting and fishing. Franklin is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Lena Downs; four brothers, Herbert Downs, Oscar Downs, Roscoe Downs, Dempsey Downs; and a sister, Ondell Keith.
Franklin is survived by his wife, Jean Downs of Hattiesburg; two daughters, Virginia (Larry) Ball of Columbia, Rhonda (Mitch) Overstreet of Hattiesburg; four grandchildren, Erinne (Ty) Ford of Columbia, Katelyne (Kenny) Boutwell of Hattiesburg, India (Will) Aust of Nashville, TN, Everest Kohli of Hattiesburg; five great-grandchildren, Waylon Ford, Tucker Boutwell, Sawyer Boutwell, Amelia “Millie” Aust and Alena Boutwell.
Visitation for Franklin will be from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at the Dixie Baptist Church.