Funeral services for Mr. J. W. Brown will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, February 21, 2017, at Fairview Church with Dr. Jon Akin and Dr. Rocky Ramsey officiating. Interment will follow at Wilson County Memorial Gardens.  Visitation Monday 4-7 PM at Ligon & Bobo, and Tuesday after 9 AM at the church.

Mr. Brown, age 88 of Lebanon passed away Saturday, February 18, 2017, at his home, with the buttercups in full bloom.

Born October 15, 1928, in Wilson County, he is the son of the late Horace and Grace Bingham Brown. He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 17, and was a member of Fairview Church for 57 years, where he served as music director for over 30 years, and deacon in his later years.  He was a 1946 graduate of Lebanon High School, and was an all-conference left end on the storied 1945 undefeated and untied conference championship team.  After attending Cumberland University on a football scholarship, he received a Masters' Degree in teaching from George Peabody College.  He was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart while serving his country as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during the Korean War. Mr. Brown was affiliated with Frazier-Brown Insurance Agency for over 33 years, first as a partner, then as owner, then again as partner, when his youngest son, Jeff, later joined him in the agency. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Nolan Jeffries Brown.

Mr. Brown loved his Lord, loved his family, loved his friends, loved his country, and loved his homemade ice cream.

He is survived by his wife of sixty four years, Mary Ann Turner Brown; four children, Steve (Caroline) Brown, Mark (Ginger) Brown, Betsy (Rocky) Ramsey, and Jeff (Melanie) Brown; grandchildren, Erin Brown, Sarah Ramsey, Emily Ramsey (Matt) Windham, Jarod (Brooke) Brown, Austin (Anna) Brown, and Bailey Brown; great grandchildren, Brady & Natalie Qualls, and Ezra & Bingham Windham.

Honorary pallbearers: Senior Adult Men of Fairview Church, Carroll Community Club, Rick Janes, Karen Doxtater, Mike Kurtz, Tim Bennett, Benny Ligon, and David Beal.

Active pallbearers: Jarod Brown, Austin Brown, Matt Windham, Wesley Turner, Kelly Queener, and Scott Turner.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Empower Me Center, P. O. Box 672, Lebanon, TN 37088

LIGON & BOBO FUNERAL HOME of Lebanon (615)444-2142   www.ligonbobo.com