Deacon William Junior Drain

***THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST IS HOSTING A SERVICE IN LOVING MEMORY FOR THE FAMILY OF DEACON WILLIAM JUNIOR DRAIN ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2023. **** PLEASE SEE VISITATIONS, SERVICE TIMES & LOCATIONS THAT ARE LISTED BELOW ****NOTE: MASKS ARE OPTIONAL AT THE CHURCH AND HAND SANITIZER WHEN WILL BE PROVIDED. ______________________________________ Obituary Deacon William Junior Drain went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born August 29, 1954, the son of William Phillips and Estella Drain in Kalamazoo, MI. Deacon William graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1972 and received an Associate’s degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in December of 2015. He was united in marriage to Anita DeLos Reyes on April 13, 2012, and they renewed their wedding vows in September 2019. Deacon William accepted Christ and was a faithful member of New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ in Kalamazoo, under the leadership of former pastors, Rev. Mack Russell and pastor emeritus Admin. Rudolph Thomas; and current pastor, Supt. William Adams. He served the church in many capacities including Deacon, Prayer Warrior, Church Trustee, Business and Finance Officer, and Sunday School teacher. Deacon William lost his eyesight in 2001, but he did not let his disability slow him down. He was an excellent businessman and was happy to assist others in any way that he could. He held many different jobs during his lifetime, including being a successful entrepreneur. His last position was Marketing Consultant for Focus Forward (formally M-Web). He had a talent for connecting people with the right resources. He was a great friend who could be counted on to give wise advice. He enjoyed a good laugh, and spending time with family and friends. William will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Deacon William was preceded in death by his parents, William Phillips and Estella (Drain) Brown. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Anita Drain; one son Damon L. Smith of Kalamazoo, MI; two step-children, Ryam Ganjehi and Cara Brown of the Philipine's; one brother, Oscar A. Brown of California; one aunt, Mary Ann (Clyde) Ferrell of Detroit, MI; two uncles, John (Fannie Lou) Drain of Battle Creek, MI, and Leon (Mattie) Drain of Kalamazoo, MI; five sisters-in-laws, Marilou Garcia of Florida, Olivia Carino of New York, Herminia Enriquez of Australia, Jenny Stewart of Las Vegas, and Sylvia DeLos Reyes of the Netherlands; two brothers-in-law, Mario DeLos Reyes of Italy, and Martin DeLos Reyes of California, and a host of cousins and other family and friends along with his New Jerusalem C.O.G.I.C. church family.

Deacon William Junior Drain

August 29, 1954 - November 23, 2023