Col James Earle Brown

Colonel James Earle Brown, US Army, retired, went home to be with the Lord on January 21. He fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept the faith. Jim (“Earle” to relatives and his wife) was born in 1932 in Jackson, Ala., where he was a childhood entrepreneur, first as a shoeshine boy then as a distributor of supplies to other shoeshine boys, moving on to clerking in his mother’s grocery store (standing on a fruit crate to reach the cash register), and finally breaking off to open his own fruit and vegetable stand. He attended the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, which later became Auburn University. Upon graduation with a degree in Business Administration and a commission through the ROTC program in June of 1954, he entered the US Army and served 26 years before retiring in June of 1980 to Marietta, Ga. He married Corrie Flynn Capell in 1952, and they were married until her death in 1995. Jim was a devoted husband and a loving father, “Pop” to their five children: Dr. James Brown, Jr. of New Orleans, La., Cile Borders of Marietta, Karin Heinzelmann and Elizabeth Bass, both of Jasper, Ga. and Jason Brown of Alpharetta, Ga. He has seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Corrie and his brothers, Charles and Louis Brown. While in the Army Jim was an officer in the Signal Corps, serving in Georgia, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Germany, and two tours in Vietnam. He was twice awarded the Legion of Merit and two Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation medal, National Defense Service medal and a Joint Service Commendation medal. He retired as a Colonel. Jim was committed to serving the Lord through his local church and quickly stepped into service and ministry whenever and wherever the Army transferred him. He was an active member of Marietta First Baptist Church for over 45 years. Through the years he taught a boys’ Sunday School class, served on and led various committees, was a long-time member of the Men’s Sunday School Class and was recognized as a Life Deacon. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 25, at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel Parlor of Marietta First Baptist Church, with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 in the Chapel. Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Grateful First fund of Marietta First Baptist Church, 148 Church Street, Marietta, Ga, 30060. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home & Crematory is handling arrangements.

Col James Earle Brown

September 4, 1932 - January 21, 2022