March 2, 1943 – Jan. 27, 2020

 

NATCHEZ — Services for Allen Brown, 76, of Natchez, who entered the Church Triumphant on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, will be noon Saturday at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church in Natchez with the Rev. Bill Barksdale and the Rev. Tim B. Brown officiating.

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

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday in the Christian Life Center at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

Allen was born March 2, 1943, in Natchez, the son of Sebastian Bash Brown and Carrie Belle Harvey Brown.

He was a lifelong resident of Natchez, graduating from Natchez High School in 1961, where he lettered in football, basketball and track. His natural athletic abilities landed him a spot on the Ole Miss Rebels football team, and for four years he truly enjoyed college life and his Rebels. As Rebels tight end, Allen was awarded many honors for his efforts on the playing field, including team co-captain and leadership award his senior year, numerous SEC honors, and 1964 First Team All-American by Associated Press, Time magazine, The Sporting News and Playboy magazine. After college, Allen was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and counted himself fortunate to be a member of the team during its Super Bowl I and II victories. The culmination of Allen’s football career was his induction into the Ole Miss Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984, and into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

Although his passion for football was great, it did not define Allen as a person. He loved his God, his family, his church, and his community of friends – and he enjoyed cooking for them all! Cooking a big meal and having his family put their feet under his table was his heart’s great pleasure. Allen felt his calling at church was to cook – and that he liked to do. Being in the kitchen serving others at Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, where he was a member, and at Grace Methodist Church, was his gift. He was also a fixture at the local annual charity golf tournament for many years, using his cooking skills to help raise scholarship funds for local high school athletes.   Allen was always excited to cook for a large group, the bigger the better.

Allen embraced the beauty of God’s creation – being outdoors in the woods hunting or on a lake or river fishing, all fed his soul. His joy was made greater when he shared these times with his wife, Margaret, his children, and friends. He particularly enjoyed his years living on Lake St. John, gardening, boating and spending time with his grandchildren. One of his favorite lake past-times was Camp Naenie, an annual event directed by his adored grandchildren Bash, Maggie, Ben, Brandon, Mary Evans and Anna Ware, for the benefit of Papa and Naenie!

Allen was employed by Browning Oil Tools and Riverside Central Services. He was known as a man who never asked anyone to do any job that he would not do himself.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents and seven siblings, L.W. “Buck” Brown, Lavern “Preacher” Brown, William “Willie” Brown, Sarah Lee Forbes, Louise Brashier, Lorraine Havard and Jerry Brown.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Margaret Burkes Brown; two sons, Tim Brown (Le) of Vicksburg, and Burkes Brown of Granbury, Texas; one daughter, Jodi Kelley (Chris) of Natchez; his beloved grandchildren; and one sister, Sharon Ledbetter (Randall) of Iuka.

Pallbearers will be Bash Brown, Ben Brown, Wilson Brown, Adam Brown, Mark Fortenbery, and Matthew Goldman.

Honorary pallbearers will be the “Breakfast Men” of the Jefferson Street Men’s Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church, 511 Jefferson St., Natchez, MS 39120, or the charity of one’ s choice.

The family would like to express its deep gratitude to the local healthcare providers who cared for Allen during his recent illness.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.