Raymond Madison Brown

Raymond Madison Brown, 74, of Atlanta, passed away on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at his home in Savannah, Georgia. With characteristic courage and persistence, Ray faced dementia and lung cancer in recent years, remaining strong until the end. He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and friend and will be missed immensely.

Raymond was born on January 12, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas to Raymond Edward Brown and Lutiel Vivian Brown. He received his secondary education at Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth and graduated from West Texas A&M University (formerly West Texas State University) in 1971. Raymond was drafted that year in the sixth round by the Atlanta Falcons, where he began his professional football career. He married Linda Camille Day on May 17, 1974, in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

Brown was known as a tone setter and a ballhawk on defense during his ten-year playing career in the NFL. In 1973, he led the Falcons with six interceptions, and the following year he led the entire NFC with 8 interceptions. In 1977, Raymond was a key contributor to the Falcons’ Grits Blitz defense, which at the time set an NFL record allowing an all-time low number of points to be scored by opposing teams in a 14-game season. He had five interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries on a defense that became historically great during his final season in Atlanta. He was traded the following season to the New Orleans Saints, where he played from 1978 to 1980.

Raymond later worked as an entrepreneur and business owner from 1983 until his retirement in 2018. His company, Brown Boy II, specialized in building construction and home remodeling, later evolving to bridge repair. He was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and volunteered for several years at the Cobb County Juvenile Court. Raymond’s hobbies included jogging, tennis, entertaining, staying on top of the latest news, and watching football.

Raymond is survived by his wife of 49 years, Linda Brown; four children, Gretchen Brown, Ryan Bantu, Derek Tice-Brown (Mark Tice), Christopher Brown (Tahira Brown); sister Jacqueline Holland; and grandchildren Bisu Bantu, Milana Brown, Blake Bantu, Cameron Brown, Talia Brown, and Beya Bantu.

Final burial will take place on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Cedar Hill Memorial Park in Arlington, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in his name to the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Rd. NE, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30322.

The family of Raymond Brown wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Compassus for palliative and hospice care; Drs. Obaid Rehman and Marcia Miller of St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital, Dr. Conor Steuer at Emory Winship Cancer Center; and the entire nursing staff at Low Country Cancer Care in Savannah (with special thanks to Lisa).