Jolene “Joe” Browning, 82, of Dennis, Mississippi, died on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Joe was born on December 26, 1943, at home in Tishomingo to the late Bud and Daisy Browning. He drove a truck for Sunshine Mills for 30 years before retiring, but his true passion was in heavy equipment operation. He worked on several sites during the building of the Tenn-Tom Waterway. Joe loved his family with everything in him. He adored gardening and dogs, especially his border collies and beagles, along with a good rabbit chase deep in the woods with his buddies in “Ole Blue”, his beloved 1985 GMC pickup truck. Joe enjoyed Southern and Bluegrass gospel music, and he was a dedicated member of Highland Baptist Church, where he dearly loved his entire church family.
Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Debra Gilley Browning, his daughter, Gina Day of Dennis; his sons, David Browning (Marecia) of Iuka and Stephen Browning (Sabrina) of League City, TX; his grandchildren, Jamie Day (Sandy) of Nettleton, Michael Day (Whitney) of Belmont, Carrie Seahorn (Chris) of RedBay, AL, Jeremy Browning of Dennis, Andrew Browning (Morgan) of Houston, TX, Austin Browning of League City, TX, Ashton Browning of League City, Anna Claire Browning of League City, and Nickie Broadway of Counce, TN; his great-grandchildren, Dallas and Miranda Day of Nettleton, Ali and Emily Seahorn of RedBay, AL, and Alexis and Ryder Day of Belmont; the mother of his children, Janey Outlaw Browning of Dennis; his dear dogs, Rudy and Lulu; several nieces and nephews; and a host of other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Daisy Browning; his siblings and their spouses, Howard Browning (Teen), Harold Browning (Helen), James Browning (Earline), Ruth Starkey (Nick), and Eloise Dover (Sonny); his nephews, Nash Starkey, Mike Dover, and Gene Browning; and his niece, Jane Browning Williams.
Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka, MS, is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at Highland Baptist Church in Dennis. Funeral services will begin at 3:00 p.m. in the church on Tuesday, officiated by Bro. Mark Daily. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Pallbearers include Bobby Pharr, Jeff Dover, Lance Hollingsworth, Austin Browning, Jamie Day, Michael Day, Chris Seahorn, and Jeremy Browning. Honorary pallbearers include Gary Pardue, Mike Butler, Jody Vuncannon, Allen Bolton, Benny Parrish, and Bill Bates. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joe’s honor to the Highland Cemetery Fund. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.
