John Oscar Brown was born November 9, 1940 in Jacksonville, FL. He was the eldest child of five children born to Johnnie Lee Brown and Blanche Pauline Wiggs Brown.

He attended Jacksonville Beach Elementary School #144 through the sixth grade and graduated from Douglas Anderson High School in 1959, the first class. Upon graduation, John moved to Elizabeth, NJ where he worked for a gas company. He met and married Lenore Hilda Dupree in 1967. In the early 70’s John returned to Florida and moved to Orlando where he worked for another gas company.

He relocated to Jacksonville Beach and became a companion and caregiver for his elderly parents. John always worked diligently. He became an employee of his cousin, Elgie Brown, General Contractor. John Oscar maintained golf courses for over 20 years as a groundkeeper working at the Oak Ridge Golf Club (now Ponte Vedra Golf and Country Club) and The Plantation Golf Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, from which he retired in 2002.

John was baptized and became a member of First Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastorate of Reverend H. H. Wright, where his father, the late Deacon Johnnie L. Brown was Chairman of the Deacon Board. He later joined St. Andrew AME Church, under the pastorate of Reverend Eugene Mobley, where he faithfully served on Usher Board I, Sister Blanche Brown, his mother, President, and Class No. 1, Sister Ethel Dawson, Class Leader. He was later placed in Class No. 6, Brother Blake Zeigler, Class Leader, where he served until his health failed.

John Oscar Brown was a reserved, genuine and compassionate gentleman. He was a man of few words, and yes his facial expressions said a lot, but in a calm way. He cherished his family and they shared many fond memories together. When you first got to know him, you thought he was just a quiet person. Then after being around him for a while, you realize he is one of those people who didn’t need to say too much, his actions spoke. To know him was to love him. John will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

On Sunday, August 9, 2009, John Oscar Brown quietly fell asleep in Jesus at Brooksdale Cypress Memory Care Unit. He was preceded in death by his infant brother, Wendell Brown and his parents, Johnnie Lee Brown and Blanche Pauline Wiggs Brown.

To cherish his loving memory are his devoted sisters, Hazel B. Martin, Jacksonville, FL, Gwendolyn Wanda Butler, Tampa, FL and Jacquelyn B. Hughes, Miami, FL; nieces, Scherrona V. Brown (Bernard Watson), Jacksonville Beach, FL, Kasongo F. Butler, Tallahassee, FL, Christina Clark, St. Petersburg, FL and Dana N. Hughes (Fiancé, Antonio Norton, Sr.), Tallahassee, FL; nephews: Barry V. Black, Altamonte Springs, FL, Eric R. Black, Jacksonville, FL and Brent Hughes, Miami, FL; great nieces and nephews, Alexis M. Brown, Dominique V. Hayes, Jacquelyn (Hayes) Lee, Dillon T. Hayes, Diamond Anderson, Ekaya Ellis, Khya Nelson, Zakari Nelson, Brent Hughes, Jr., Scott Hughes, Trea Hughes, Frederick Stewart, Jr., Ericka Stewart, Baylin Petrillo, Calyx Clarkson; and Antonio Norton, Jr.; great-great nephews, Damion Hayes and Darius Hayes; uncle and aunts, Joseph Brown (Louise), Linden, NJ, Olivia Brown, Elizabeth, NJ, and Nettie Bell Wiggs, Dublin, GA; long time special friend, Carrie Mae Ellis McGruder; former brother-in-law, Theodore Martin; numerous cousins, other relatives and supportive friends.