To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 11/16/17 • Approved: 11/17/17 • Last Updated: 12/30/20 • R1202271-G1202270-S3
LeVivian
Mar 12, 1920 - Feb 12, 2013
Rev Spencer
Mar 3, 1921 - 2017
Obituary
www.legacy.com
Published in Times-Herald from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2, 2017
Born March 3, 1921, Rev. Spencer Brown, was pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Marianna for 51 years and pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Moro for 50 years.
Rev. Brown was married to deceased LaVivian Beasley Brown of Marianna for 73 years. They gave birth to seven children. Rev. Brown loved community and his work, good deeds, and voice for the community, both church and politically span from local to national. He understood the importance and inextricable relationship of church, state, community and the people. He was a civil rights activist, a community leader and former school board member.
Rev. Brown assisted the development of many initiatives in Lee County that served the needs of people. He was a Mason, a collaborative trailblazer in the development of the Marianna Head Start Program and Lee County Cooperative Clinic. He was a voice for the harmony of all people. He stood by his convictions, openly supporting and voting for Democrats and Republicans. He felt a person's character should define that decision.
Rev. Brown broke ground by selling some of his farmland, and built houses so other families could own their home in what is now known as Brown's Addition, a progressive civic-minded outside Marianna City limits. Brown built homes for people before FHA created its loan program by providing affordable financing for buyers. He proudly encouraged people to vote and was seen at the courthouse voting during the 2016 election. On Jan. 18, 2017, we lost a pillar of the community and a century of wisdom and good will.
He leaves many to mourn his passing including a son: Pervis, (Thelma-divorced); daughters, Wyvonne (Waymond) Sisk and Carolyn (Michael-divorced) Elliott of Marianna; Deborah (Oscar) Sparks, Edmonson, daughters-in-law, Linda (Barry-deceased), Ocie (Elmore-deceased), Lela (Spencer Jr.-deceased) Brown and Donna (Spencer Jr.- significant other) Scanzoni, St. Louis, Mo.; one brother: Clayborn (Lula), Toledo, Ohio; sisters: Elizabeth (Alonzo-deceased) Griffin, Philadelphia, Pa., Carrie (Foster-deceased) Board, Detroit, Mich.; sister-in-law, Margaret (Lavernard (Ray)-deceased) Brown, Columbus, Ohio; brother-in-law, Clifton (Olivia-deceased) James, West Covina, Calif., and deceased sister, Wihelmina Butler; brothers, James (Maerene) Brown of Marianna and McKinley Brown, Toledo, Ohio. Spencer leaves generations of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of relatives and friends to carry on the legacy for humanity.
Friends are cordially invited to a celebration of his life with the family at one of the churches he pastored from 6 to 8 o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 27th of January, in the sanctuary of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Marianna.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at St. John Cemetery.
Kincaid Funeral Services of Forrest City is in charge of all arrangements.
Photo courtesy of sandycurry10@gmail.com
Contributed on 11/16/17 by hawkinsdonna48
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 1202271