William “Bill” Brackin, of Florence, Alabama, passed away March 25, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of service, loyalty, and love. Born to B.H. and Ruby Nell Brackin, Bill served his country with honor, enlisting in the United States military on June 5, 1982, and retiring as a Captain on June 8, 1999. His dedication did not end with his retirement; he went on to serve in the reserves and later as an independent contractor with NATO, eventually rising to a key role within the Supreme Allied Command Transformation (SACT), NATO’s strategic command focused on modernization and future readiness. A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 29 from 9am – 11am at Williams Funeral Home of Florence.
Bill was deeply loyal to his alma mater, the University of North Alabama, where he was an active supporter of UNA athletics and a proud alumnus of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. His love of the game of golf led him to attend the Golf Academy of America, where he later worked and mentored others—a testament to his passion and patience.
He was preceded in death by his parents, B.H. and Ruby Nell Brackin; his nephew, Jason Lyle; and his brother-in-law, Ken Butler.
He is survived by Suzanne Brackin, the mother of his children; his sons Jon Brackin (Margaret) and Robert Brackin; his daughter Allison Morgan (Jess); and his grandchildren, his beloved Shaylee Brackin, Will and Ruby Morgan, and Sophia Brackin. He also leaves behind his sisters, Trudy Lyle (Mike) and Tonita Butler; nieces Tricia Wall (Frank), Megan Poss (Cory), and their children, Vivian and Charlie; nephew Andrew Butler (Haley); his aunts, Virginia Ann Hawsey and Pat King (R.C.); and a host of cousins and close friends.
He lived a life where he loved and was deeply loved in return. A man who inspired emotion across the spectrum—honest, bold, and impossible to forget. We each loved him in our own way. He would want us to remember him, to grieve of course, but more than anything, he’d want us to laugh. To think of his belly laugh and his broad smile. His smart alec humor and sharp wit. None of us will go a day without thinking of him—and in that, he’ll live on.
That memory—the one we carry into every tomorrow—is the kind of legacy no words can contain. And he earned every bit of it.
