NATCHEZ — Services for Lavern “Preacher” Brown, 82, of Natchez, who died Saturday, June 23, 2007, at his residence, will be 2 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with the Rev. Bart Walker officiating.

Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Mr. Brown was born Sept. 5, 1924, in Roxie, the son of Sebastian Benjamin and Carrie Bell Harvey Brown. He was a devout member and ordained Deacon of Parkway Baptist Church. Mr. Brown was a member of Natchez High and South Natchez Booster Club. He received the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Award, and was also a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 1994, he received the J. C. Penney Golden Rule Award, and was elected an Unsung Hero in The Natchez Democrat. He was retired from Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company. He maintained the athletic fields for Dixie Youth Baseball voluntarily. He was an unselfish man who would help anyone in need and was the champion of any mistreated youngster.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, and brothers, Buck Brown and Willie Brown; an infant sister, and sister, Sarah Lee Forbes.

Survivors include his wife, Jean S. Brown of Natchez; son, Neil Brown and wife, Martha; daughter, Charlotte Smith and husband, Bobby, all of Natchez; special grandson, Vick Brown and wife, Pascha, of Vidalia; special granddaughters, Jennifer Dungan and husband, Derrick, of Vidalia and DiLou Smith of Natchez; special great-granddaughters, Megan Brown of Jayess, Gentry Brown of Natchez, Pyper Brown and Lauren Dungan, both of Vidalia; special great-grandsons, Austin Dungan and Colby Byrd, both of Vidalia; sisters, Lorraine Havard of Natchez, Louise Brashier of Lake Concordia and Sherry Ledbetter of Iuka; brothers, Jerry Brown of Yazoo City and Allen Brown of Lake St. John; many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Nathan Oliver, Delton McCurley, Alton Brown, Ronnie Brown, Walter Havard Jr., Dale Stevens, Burkes Brown, and Derrick Dungan.

Honorary pallbearers will be fellow employees of Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company, Leslie Sprouls, Clarence Bowlin, and Directors of Dixie Youth Baseball, George Clark, Adrian Day, Heaven Bound Sunday School Class, and every child that participated in Dixie Youth Baseball League.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Preacher Brown Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship or Parkway Baptist Church Building Fund.