James Leroy Brown

James L. Brown passed away on the morning of Friday, December 8, 2023, at the age of 81. James was an avid bowler, who loved Chicago Bears Football, Chicago Cubs Baseball and Southern University Football, tailgating, camaraderie with friends, and most of all time with his family. James was thoughtful, caring, and prided himself as a top shelf "straight-shooting jokester." James was educated in the Chicago Public School System and enjoyed a career in the United States Navy during the tumultuous time of the Vietnam War. In fact he served three tours of duty during the war, serving on the U.S.S. Oriskany Aircraft Carrier his last tour. Following that career path, James enjoyed a 30 year career at ExxonMobil Plastics Plant, of Baker, LA, of which he retired. Not long after, James found himself giving again of all his knowledge and self at Capitol Middle School in East Baton Rouge Parish. While serving in that role he proudly enrolled as a college student at Baton Rouge Community College where he taught the professors more than they taught him. James is survived by his wife of 50 years, Marie L. Brown; children, J. Vincent Brown (Aiesha), Jennifer E. Carriere (Brian), Patricia Kathleen Forte (James), and Leslie Renee Brown-Wallace; grandchildren, Madison Camille Brown, Blake Eileen Carriere, Blaze Chandler Carriere, Edward Williams, III, Edric Williams, Ehrin Williams, Briah Carriere, Symphony Fletcher, Brian Fletcher, Brooke Carriere, Marcus Pennington, Jennifer Pennington, Lauren Brown (Maurice), and Kristin Brown; great-grandchildren, Kennedy Brown, Laila Bond, Maxwell Bond, and Sage Carriere; sister, Yvonne Palmer (Nathaniel “Dino”); and a host of other loving family and friends. James is preceded in death by his son, James L. Brown, Jr.; grandson, Carson Jeremy Brown; his parents, Hazel and Charles Walker; mother, Eloise Crawford; parents-in-law, Dennie Combs and Elizabeth Webster-Combs; and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Ann Combs. Visitation will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1565 Curtis Street, Baton Rouge, LA, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, from 9am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Words of encouragement, stories, and anecdotes may be shared during visitation. Burial will immediately follow at Louisiana National Cemetery, 303 W. Mount Pleasant Rd., Zachary, LA. The Brown family offers special thanks to Dr. Rachel Clark, Dr. Michael Castine, Dr. Andrew Lauve, Dr. Charles Thompson, Lynsey Sims, and Lushawna Martin and Nina Oliveaux of Clarity Hospice for all the care you shared with James. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greenoaksfunerals.com