Donald Brown

1949—2016

Donald Wayne Brown, 66, died suddenly on June 26, doing what he loved: playing in the dirt. The longtime landscaper was planting flowers for a client when he had a heart attack and died that afternoon. He is survived by his wife Marcie Bickerstaff Brown, sons Wells Brown (Juli Carillo) of Vancouver, Parker Brown of Atlanta, and step-son Cooper Pursley of Atlanta. His grandchildren Alia Brown and Maggie Brown of Vancouver will also miss being a part of his life.

Don grew up attending Trinity Presbyterian Church and The Westminster Schools. He graduated from Northside High School and from The University of Georgia where he was a devoted member of Dawg Nation and the Chi Phi fraternity. He had worked for Habersham Gardens for many years but most recently worked with the Buckhead Gardening Group.

Don was a Georgia boy through and through, a devoted family man who loved his native city of Atlanta. He had an adventurous spirit and a passion for camping and hiking that led him around the state, from Springer Mountain and Black Rock Mountain to Augusta, Saint Simon's and Sea Island. Because of his infectious, irresistible charm, his engaging wit, warm heart and contagious, captivating laugh, his family joyfully followed.

He was a loving and supportive husband, an affectionate, encouraging father and a favorite uncle. He was his sister's biggest cheerleader during her ongoing battle with cancer. When his niece was hit by a car in 1995, Don was instrumental in getting her into the Shepherd Center's Brain Injury Unit. As she convalesced, Don encouraged her to run the Peachtree Road Race as a goal to promote healing. That Independence Day, the entire family having trained for the race (some in Aunt Charley's), many of them actually ran it. That year began a family tradition.

Traditions and rituals were important to Don. He was quick to build a fire when the temperature dropped below 60 degrees. At Christmas (when he’d play A Christmas Story 24/7 and always wearing his Santa hat), he had great fun showering his family and friends with lottery tickets. He was crazy for kites at the beach, often flying 10 at a time, nurturing his banana trees (indoors for the winter and on the deck for the summer), and playing badminton in the backyard. During football season he was always sporting an earbud, listening to every game and then hashing them out with his sister Sara, son Parker, his Chi Phi buddies and anyone else who would listen.

Don lovingly baked Don’s Famous Pies from his mother’s recipes, which even found their way into a couple of local restaurants. The awesome lemon meringue pie was featured at every family holiday function, birthday or just because.

Don’s optimistic outlook on life and his knack for making everyone laugh will be sorely missed by all who knew him. May his gentle soul be welcomed by God's angels and those who have gone before him.

Don was born July 31, 1949 in Atlanta to Henry Nathan Brown and Mildred Frances Shaw Brown. His sister Sara Brown Kendrick survives him; their brother Ron Brown died in 2008. Don’s sister-in-law Cindy Bickerstaff Mallard, brother-in-law Charles (Jayne) Bickerstaff also survive him as do loving nieces and nephews who will miss him terribly: Bonnie Kendrick, Caroline Kendrick, Margaret Kendrick Bonano, Sally Kendrick Robinson, Katherine Kendrick Truelove, Sam Kendrick, Thornton (Samantha) Mallard, Paul Mallard, Carolyn Bickerstaff Lee (B’Young), and Chris Bickerstaff (Jamie).

Visitation will be Friday July 8 at 10 a.m. at Northside United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Drive, NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. The funeral service in the church sanctuary at 11 a.m. will be immediately followed by interment at Westview Cemetery, 1680 Westview Drive, SW, Atlanta, GA 30310. A reception will take place afterwards at the family home, 422 Broadland Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30342. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Shepherd Center Foundation (www.shepherd.org), 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309-1465; the American Heart Association (www.heart.org), 5851 St Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32207; the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Office of Gift Records, Emory University, 1762 Clifton Road, NE, Suite1400, Atlanta, GA 30322; or the Alzheimer's Association, Georgia Chapter (www.alz.org/georgia), 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 550, Atlanta GA 30346.