Brona Jean Freeman

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Brona Jean (Dunbar) Freeman peacefully passed away at Brookdale Memory Care Center in Hattiesburg, MS, after a lengthy but valiant struggle with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. She was 83 years old.

Brona was born in Lyons, Kansas on July 22, 1941 to the late Marguerite and Marcus Dunbar but soon relocated to the Ruskin Heights neighborhood of Kansas City, MO. She graduated from Ruskin High School in 1959. She had a lengthy career with the Federal Civil Service ranging from GS-2 Key Punch Operator with IRS in 1962 at the Kansas City facility to retiring as a GS-12 Resource Manager with the Air Force Reserve Wing at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS in 1997. In 1972 she was selected as the first female Training Technician in an operational flying unit in the Air Force Reserve Wing at Richards-Gebaur AFB, Belton, MO. As a requirement of her training position, she was enlisted into the Air Force Reserve, retiring 29 years later in 2001 as the Air Force Reserve Command (E-9) Chief Master Sergeant at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.

After retirement, she and Wayne spent the better part of the next 16 years motor-homing over the United States, visiting 38 states and traveling nearly 27,000 miles. Resettling at RV resorts in Mesa and Prescott, AZ, she played seniors tennis and devoted many hours leading exercise classes and assisting in the Bingo program. She was a dedicated hospital volunteer, accumulating over 4,000 hours over a ten-year span. 

She is survived by her husband, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Wayne L. Freeman of Hattiesburg, MS; son, Christopher A. Davis (Ruth), of Raymore, MO; sister, Shirley Irene Buxton of Belton, MO; step-children, Kevin L. Freeman (Mary Jo) of Hattiesburg, MS, Shelley Lou Lee (Rob) of Sumrall, MS; eight grand-children and 13 great-grand-children.

Brona loved the Air Force and the many opportunities for service that it afforded her. She was proudest when she was wearing the uniform at military functions. She was a dynamic ambassador for women in the military.

A funeral service will be held at 12:30 pm on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. 

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Brona Jean (Dunbar) Freeman.