Hundreds Attend Funeral For Man Killed By Stray Bullet At Tulsa Best Buy

Many of those who attended, including Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, wore teal clothing or ribbons in Brown's honor.

Saturday, July 21st 2012, 4:30 pm

By: News On 6

Hundreds Attend Funeral For Man Killed By Stray Bullet At Tulsa Best Buy

Hundreds piled into Boston Avenue United Methodist Church to remember Tulsan Graydon Wesley Brown. Brown was killed by a stray bullet while he was shopping with his 10-year-old daughter at Best Buy last weekend.

Many of those who attended, including Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, wore teal ribbons in Brown's honor.

"Events like this it affects the entirety of our city, not just a part," Bartlett said. "It obviously devastates a family and we as a family of Tulsans want to come together."

Brown was a Ponca City native, a University of Oklahoma graduate, a son, brother, husband and father and all those who knew him, say he was truly one of a kind.

"Wonderful man," neighbor Elaine Meek said. "He's actually the nicest man I've ever met. I mean, just the sweetest, nicest, kindest, most decent human being I've ever met."

Brown's friends say he loved to dance and found joy in helping others have a good time.

Brown was an organizer for a Tulsa dance group. The group say they hope to have a memorial for him early next month.

"His enthusiasm and his welcoming attitude just made it so much fun," friend Rebecca Renfro said.

"Even if you had no idea what you were doing, he was so gracious in teaching you and all the other contra dancers."

Those in mourning say there are no words to describe the pain they're going through, but with the support of others who loved Brown, they hope to carry on his legacy for everyone else to see.

"He was awesome, wonderful, always smiling, always gentle, always kind," friend Gail White said.

During Saturday's memorial service, Rev. William Tankersley spoke about how Brown, 58, lived a full life.

Tankersley said Brown found joy in helping others have a good time and that his life was not complete until he got married and had a daughter.

Since Brown's life was taken by what police believe is gang violence that dates back to 2008, Tankersley said it is hard to not contrast Brown's life with the culture of gangs.

He said Brown was caring and had a full life with a promising future. Tankersley said most people in gangs live empty lives and end up filling the void with violence.

Also killed on July 14 was convicted felon Scott D. Norman, the "intended target" of purported gang member Willie Wise, who police said was caught on surveillance cameras firing the deadly shots from the store's parking lot.

The Norman family reached out to News On 6 earlier in the week, but they later called off an interview.

On Saturday, the funeral home handling Norman's service said it will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Lifeline Outreach Ministries, 2708 N. Cincinnati Ave.