Mr. George Richardson Brown

Published in The Anniston Star on 11/19/2008

ANNISTON — Funeral services for Mr. George Richardson Brown Sr., 88, will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Gray Brown Service Chapel with the Rev. Robert Hurst and the Rev. Wayne Stephens officiating. Burial will follow at Forestlawn Gardens. The family will receive friends at Gray Brown Service from 6-8 this evening. Mr. Brown died Monday, November 17, 2008, at his residence.

Survivors include his daughter, Sharon Payne and husband, Coley, of Anniston; daughter-in-law, Lisa Brown, of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Heath Payne and wife, Alicia, Heather Payne, Abbye Scroggins and husband, Kerry, Katye Brown and husband, Jason; great-grandchildren, Jake Scroggins, Payton Scroggins, Chloe Payne, Lacy Hauk; and sisters, Willie Mae Avery and Dot Underwood, of Greer, S.C. and also several nieces and nephews. Mr. Brown is preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. Brown; son, George R. "Rick" Brown Jr.; parents, Nelson and Effie Brown; brother, Malcolm Jones; and sister, Betty Jean Ross.

Special thanks to Brenda Whittle, Rheta Cobb, Barbara Johnson with New Beacon Hospice and special caregivers Lisa Brown and Abbye Scroggins.

Mr. Brown Came to Anniston in 1947 to play baseball for the Anniston Rams and met the love of his life, Mary E. Reid at Scarbrough's Drug Store and were married on October 30, 1948. He later played minor league ball for the Texas League and Shthe Reveport.

He was a well know umpire at Norwood and Campbell Field for the little league and also served as an umpire for the Anniston High School baseball in the mid 1950s and early 1960s. Then Mr. Brown went to work at M&H Valve in 1956 until he retired. Mr. Brown was also a member of World War II 206th Military Police Co. in Central Europe from 1942-1945.

Flowers will be accepted or donations to New Beacon Hospice.

Pallbearers are Jimmy Wood, Kenny Ross, Mike Reid, Bill Dobbs, Heath Payne, Blake Tippett and Honorary pallbearer will be J.D. Brown. Gray Brown-Service Mortuary "Continuous Service Since 1897."