Willie Jean 'Phony" Pearson, 62, of 107 Lincoln St., passed on Wednesday morning, October 21, 2009, at 7:30 a.m. at his residence.

Son of the late Guywion Pearson and the late Mary Ellen Burris Pearson, he was born on March 14, 1947, in Cherokee County. He was a member of Hopewell Presbyterian Church. He was a retired Brick Handler and worked many years at Kings Mt. Brick Yard and Boren Brick Yard of Blacksburg.

He is survived by six foster sons, Tim Green, Ricky Austin, Larry Joe Austin, Eddie Austin and Mike Austin, all of Gaffney, and Travis Santiago of Mississippi; four foster daughters, Rebecca Austin, Carolyn Mack, Delia Dawkins and Romonia Davidson, all of Gaffney; four brothers, John Hubert Burris, Sammy Lee Pearson, Charles Pearson, all of Gaffney, and Guy “Junior” Pearson of Atlanta, Ga.; four foster brothers, Edger Austin and Eddie Dawkins, Larry Dawkins, of Gaffney and Thomas Ross of Blacksburg; five sisters, Dollie Pearson, Sarah Keeter, Louise Pearson and Amy Pearson, all of Gaffney, and Lula Mae Cureton of Rutherfordton, N.C.; three foster sisters, Annie Austin and Betty Santiago, both of Gaffney, and Joyce Ofori of Cowpens; his grandmother, Estella J. Dawkins of Gaffney; and a host of other relatives.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a foster sister, Carolyn Austin.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. at Hopewell Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dennis Funderburke officiating.

Burial will be in Hopewell cemetery.

The body will lie in the church from 1 p.m. until the hour of the service.

You can contact the family at the residence at 107 Lincoln Street, Gaffney.

Foster Funeral Home of Gaffney in charge of arrangements.