In the quiet of his Mobile, Alabama, home, 53-year-old Frank Browning was shot in the head as he slept on May 26, 2019. A native and lifelong resident of the city, Mr. Browning was a well-respected figure in his community, known for his work as a pastor and his ownership of a successful flooring business. The tranquility of that spring night was shattered by an act of violence that would stun those who knew him.
Authorities subsequently arrested his son, William Browning, and charged him
with the murder of his father. The investigation revealed a deeply disturbing element to the crime, as it was reported that William had been planning to kill his father for 13 years. Following his arrest, William Browning was held without bond and entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge. At the time of his arrest for the murder, he was also facing charges in Mississippi for receiving stolen property.
Frank Browning's life had been one of service and entrepreneurship. He had served as a pastor, youth pastor, and associate pastor in various churches in Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. In addition to his ministerial work, he was the owner of Wileco Flooring, Inc., and was recognized as a master flooring contractor in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. His sudden and violent death left a void in the community he had served for many years. Funeral services were held on May 31, 2019, and he was laid to rest in Mobile Memorial Gardens. In his memory, his family requested that donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause he held dear.
