John Fred Brown

He was born in Mount Olive, Alabama on January 15th, 1929, to the late James Washington Brown and Willie Belle (Smelley) Brown. John Fred Brown lived a long life filled with energy and happiness. He was a fine athlete and won numerous golf championships and along the way accumulated 15 hole-in-ones. He was well loved and surrounded by friends and family his entire life. John Fred Brown was a life-long Baptist.

Above all else, John Fred Brown loved his family. He especially loved his wife of 69 years, Marlene (Farris) Brown, his children, and, of course, his 11 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. John Fred Brown was a man of integrity and a good friend to many people. We were all very blessed to have him in the world.

The funeral will be held on Monday, November 18th, 2024, at Memory Chapel Funeral Home. The visitation will be at 10:00 and services at 11:00 in the morning. Burial will follow at Memory Hill Gardens with Memory Chapel Funeral Home, directing. A reception will follow.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene (Farris) Brown; parents, James Washington Brown and Willie Belle (Smelley) Brown; brothers, James Price Brown, William Edward Brown, and sister, Nancie Lavater (Brown) Buck.

Survivors include daughters, Linda Liberis (Charles), Deborah Isaacson; sons, Stephen Brown (Cheryl) and Scott Brown (Suzanne); grandchildren, Rachael Gilmer (Albi), Forrest Faulkner (Ed), Brooke Spinelli (Ben), Saige Hassler (Rod), Lane Shaw (Eric), Claire Maxwell (Jake), Katherine Young (Sean), Nicholas Brown (Tara), Jonathan Rich, Dustin Brown (Gintare) and Emily Struna; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Nicholas Brown, Jonathan Brown, grandson in-laws, Albi Gilmer, Ed Faulkner, and Sean Young, and great great-grandsons, Mac Gilmer and Coe Gilmer.

Honorary pallbearers are … the management and staff of Wesley Haven Villa, Gentiva Hospice; Lulu Merriman, Randy Washington, Nicholas M. Brown, John L. Brown, Ralph Owens, friends and family too numerous to name; and a very special thank you to his caregivers: Renay Jones, Tina Rayford, Annette Roshirtt, Rita Biggs, and Lillie Moore.