NATCHEZ &045; On Friday, Natchez will have a chance to say goodbye to the first soldier from the Miss-Lou to be killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Henry L. Brown, 22, a corporal with the Army’s HHC 2nd Brigade Command Group Unit 93 200, was killed April 7 when the building he was in was hit by mortar fire.

Brown’s body arrived Monday night at the Baton Rouge Airport. Law enforcement personnel from Natchez, Wilkinson County, Concordia Parish, Vidalia and the Mississippi Highway Patrol traveled there to provide an escort back to Natchez.

Services for Brown will be held at noon Friday at the Natchez Convention Center, with burial to follow in Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of West Funeral Home.

&uot;We wanted somewhere that was big enough to accommodate all those people,&uot; said Sharon Goodrich, a military wife, mother and daughter who is helping coordinate the services.

The City of Natchez has arranged for shuttle buses to take those attending the service to and from the cemetery, since cemetery parking is limited.

After the service and burial, food will be served at the convention center. Anyone wishing to contribute food can bring it to the convention center after 8:30 a.m., Goodrich said.

For her part, Brown’s mother, Rhonda James-Brown, said she thanks those from throughout the state and nation &045; including local, state and federal officials &045; who have called and written to offer sympathy and support.

&uot;It’s wonderful,&uot; Brown said. &uot;People from all around have called.&uot;