Donald Theo Brown

Donald Theo “Sonny” Brown, age 89, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, passed away on April 25, 2020 peacefully with family nearby at Jacksonville, Arkansas.  He was born April 20, 1931 in New Edinburg, Arkansas.  He was the son of Thomas Harvey Brown and Mary Elizabeth Thompson Brown.

He was retired from the Arkansas Department of Transportation after 30 years and also served as a pastor at First Free Will Baptist Church in Malvern and Bethel Free Will Baptist Church in Little Rock for over 30 years. He spent retirement traveling with his wife and building churches across the country.

Donald enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a founding member of the Pleasant Valley Hunting Club, Warren AR.  He was also an avid gardener.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 61 years Melba Leon Richardson Brown, by two sisters, Hazel Marie Brown Mann, Betty Jean Brown Nicholson Lambert and by eight brothers Franklin Brown, Thomas Brown Jr., Marion Brown, Nolen Curtis Brown, Dewey Edmond Brown, Luther Terrell “L.T.” Brown, James Clark Brown and Gerald Bernard Brown.

Survivors include three sons, Donald Ray Brown (Lise) of Palm Harbor, FL, David Leon Brown (Temisia) of Nashville, TN and Randy Gene Brown (Glenda) of Jacksonville, AR. His grandchildren, Meghan Keely Brown Andreu (Taylor) of Cabot, Arkansas, Reese Richardson Brown (Charity) of Nashville, TN, Adra McClellan Brown of Nashville, TN and Jonathan David Bowman (Victoria) of Clearwater, FL. One, soon to be born, great grandchild Ezekiel Reese Brown and one sister-in-law Terry Lee Keating Brown of Hot Springs, AR.

A Graveside service will be held Monday April 27 at 11:00am at Reaves Cemetery in New Edinburg, Cleveland County, Arkansas officiated by Rev. Phillip Whiteaker