Obituary – James Morris Brown

Published 1:16 pm Monday, May 12, 2025

James Morris Brown (Jim) passed away at the age of 82 surrounded by his family on May 9, 2025, at his home in Greenville, Alabama. Jim was born in Selma at Craig Air Force Base on February 11, 1943, to Ridley and LaMerle Wasden Brown. 

Jim married Glenda, his devoted wife of 61 years, on Labor Day of 1963. The couple have two daughters Debbie (Troy) Braden and Kathy (Leander) Pickens; four grandchildren Adam Braden, Kathryn (Josh) Ray, Jamie Pickens and Noah Pickens and three great-grandchildren Irene Braden, Riley Braden, and Anna Charles Ray. He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant brothers.

Growing up with an airman father, Jim lived in many places including Florida, Missouri, Kansas, England, and Louisiana, returning intermittently to Greenville when his father was deployed to areas where the family could not follow. He graduated from Greenville High School in 1961 and attended Troy State University and Auburn University before joining the Air Force in 1966. His military specialty was Airborne Early Warning Control. He was part of a radar surveillance team and flew between Cuba and Key West, between Iceland and Russia, and out of Ubon, Thailand, during the Vietnam War. He separated from the Air Force in 1973 with the rank of E5 Staff Sergeant and returned to Greenville and worked and travelled for Rheem Manufacturing as a national air conditioning technical representative, trainer, and trouble shooter for 28 years. 

Jim was an avid hunter and expert marksman. He was a patient teacher, a good listener, and a real charmer. He had a special talent with animals of all kinds and greatly appreciated God’s creation. He was a voracious reader, vocal patriot, and a captivating story-teller. After living a nomadic life for so many of his early years, he was always amazed that he had managed to stay in one place for 52 years. 

Funeral services will be held at Antioch West Baptist Church with the Reverend Nathan Skipper officiating. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. with the funeral to follow at 11 am, Wednesday, May 14. Jim will be interred there among four previous generations of his family. Donations in his honor may be made to the Antioch West Baptist Church Cemetery Fund in care of Cindi McCullough at 274 West Pettibone Road, Georgiana, AL 36033. 

Online condolences may be made at www.johnsonfhal.com.