Funeral Services for Mr. William Brett Keith Jr., LCDR USN, Ret., age 89 of Lineville, will be held on Monday, July 1, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Lineville Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Cummings and Rev. Jerry Colquett officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at 3:00 P.M. at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville.
Mr. Keith passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at RMC in Anniston. Mr. Keith was born in Chalkville, Alabama, and was a 1952 graduate of Hewitt High School. Upon graduating, he was hired by Jackson Industries Production Foundry Manufacturing Parts for Rockwell Gas Meter and Chrysler Motor Company, and went on to attend Berry College in Mt. Berry, Georgia. He worked on the farm during the summer to earn tuition, and his goal was to be the first in his family to attain a college education. In August of 1954, he enlisted in the US Navy and was sent to San Diego for recruitment training. HE arrived on the USS Pollux where he spent the next three years. In 1957, he married his wife, Martha, and began their family. In 1959, Mr. Keith was transferred to the Navy Reserve Training Unit in Vicksburg, Mississippi and was responsible for all logistics and record keeping for the Center and the USS Prescott. In 1960, after the birth of his son, his family settled for 32 months in Chula Vista, California. From there, he was eventually transferred to the Pacific Fleet Supply Operations Assistance Program (SOAP) Support Team in San Francisco, followed by a transfer to Bremerton, Washington. There, he provided assistance in purification of Repair Parts Inventories and corrected all configuration documents in support of the allowance list. Mr. Keith continues as head of a team that saw 37 ships complete Repair availabilities and/or major overhauls, including the Aircraft carriers Oriskany, Kitty Hawk, and Constellation. In 1970, He and his family were sent to Okinawa, Japan, where he was assigned as Navy Exchange Officer and Navy Liaison to the Okinawan Regional Exchange. After 3 years, his family was able to leave Japan, eventually settling in Pensacola, Florida where he served as Assistant Officer in Charge of the Navy Commissary Store Region. In 1978, He was assigned to the USS Shreveport as Supply and Logistics Officer, and provided support for several mini-deployments and one major deployment to the Mediterranean with Marine Amphibious Readiness Group. In September of 1980, Mr. Keith officially retired from the U.S. Navy having completed 26 years and 13 days of Continuous Active duty, ending as the rank of Lieutenant Commander (LCDR), and earned the National Defense Medal, China Service Award, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, Sea Service Ribbon, Good Conduct Award (3rd), and Navy Commendation Medal. In 1999, He and his wife relocated to Lineville, where he served as a member of the Lineville Industrial Development Board, and was a member of the Military Officer Association of America (MOAA). Mr. Keith was a member, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Chairman of Ushers and other committees for Lineville Baptist Church. In Mr. Keith’s off time, he enjoyed tending to his garden, fishing, and traveling and spending time with his wife, Martha. He was very detail oriented and organized in every part of his life
Mr. Keith is survived by one daughter, Glenna Sue Freeman of Oxford; one son, Russell Louis Keith (Virginia) of Douglasville, GA; two grandchildren: William Russell Freeman (Cassie) of Oxford and Andrea Elizabeth Farley (David) of Joppa; two great-grandchildren: Athena Diane freeman and Destiny Rae Payne; and one brother, Wilburn Wilson Keith of Trussville.
He was preceded in death by his parents: William Brett Keith Sr. and Hettie Ruby Wilson Keith; his wife of 62 years, Martha A. Keith, and one sister, Gail Wood.
Active Pallbearers will be the Deacons of Lineville Baptist Church. Honorary Pallbearers will be Wynell Ingram, and other caregivers of Mr. Keith.
His visitation will take place on Sunday, June 30, 2024 at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville from 5:30 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. He will lie in state for one hour on Monday, July 1, 2024 at Lineville Baptist Church from 10:00 A.M. until service time at 11:00 A.M.
