In Memoriam: Rev. Willis A. Brown

Reverend Willis A. Brown, pastor of Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Philadelphia, was received into eternal rest on July 16, 2026. A Celebration of Life service for Rev. Brown will be held Saturday, July 25, at Mt. Airy Baptist Church, starting at 10 a.m.

July 23, 2026
Macala Mays

Reverend Willis A. Brown was received into eternal rest on July 16, 2026. Rev. Brown served as the pastor of Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Philadelphia and was deeply loved by his congregation.

A Celebration of Life service for Rev. Brown will be held Saturday, July 25, at Mt. Airy Baptist Church, located at 2012 69th Ave., Philadelphia. The service will begin at 10 a.m, with the interment following at Ivy Hill Cemetery.

Prior to the service, guests will be received starting at 8 a.m. for a viewing. An additional viewing will be held on Friday, July 24, at Mt. Airy Baptist Church from 5-9 p.m.

The Baptist Resource Network (BRN) expresses its deepest condolences to Rev. Brown’s loved ones and the Mt. Airy Baptist Church family. We praise God for the fact that we do not grieve without hope and that because of Jesus we will see Rev. Brown again someday! Until then, we thank the Lord for all He accomplished through this dear brother and pray for those who are mourning Rev. Brown’s absence here on earth.

Macala Mays

In 2022, Macala Mays stepped into her current role as Associate Editor of BRN United and Podcast Producer for the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN). Before taking this position, she worked as a contracted Podcast Producer in 2021 and a freelance writer in 2020 for the BRN. During her time with the BRN, Macala Mays has produced three different podcast series, including 50 Stories of Transformation (2021-2022), The #LovePASJ Podcast (2022), and Celebrating Cooperative Missions (2023). She also has written over 60 articles for the BRN and has been nationally published by The Baptist Paper and Baptist Press. She is also a member of the Baptist Communicators Association (BCA). Prior to working with the BRN, Macala interned at the State Capitol of Tennessee in the Publications Division under the office of Secretary of State. She also remotely wrote news for TalkErie, a radio station in Erie, Pa., and previously worked as a News Director/Producer for WJET-TV in Erie, Pa. Macala Mays holds a master of arts in communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (EUP) as well as a bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations from EUP. During her graduate years, Macala worked as a Graduate Assistant and helped manage the on-campus radio station. She also served as a managing editor for the university’s newspaper, which led to an interest in music journalism. Macala and her husband, Robbie, live in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, where they attend Big Woods Bible Church and Robbie serves as the Associate Pastor of Campus Ministry. Both Robbie and Macala find great joy in discipling and walking alongside college students at Lock Haven University.