George Randall Brown,'s Obituary
George Randall Brown, Sr., 87, of Gainesville, Florida, went home to be with the Lord on April 17, 2026, after a brief illness. He was blessed to have his love and partner, Renae Clements, as well as his two sons, Randy and Rodney, by his side when he passed from Gator County into Glory.
Randall was born to the late George Washington Brown and Merina May Burrows in Jacksonville, Florida. His mother passed away when Randall was only 5 years old. He and his father relocated to O’Brien, Florida, where his dad met and married Mary Alice Fletcher. Randall grew up fishing and playing baseball, and he earned extra money for his family by working on neighbors’ farms cropping tobacco and harvesting watermelons. This was hard labor, especially under the scorching Florida sun, and it established the foundation of his strong work ethic.
When he was in his teens, Randall’s family moved to Georgia. He attended Evans High School where he played every varsity sport, joined the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and graduated in 1956. Randall served his country in the Army National Guard and went to work for Westinghouse as an electrical technician. He married June Jackson in 1958. They had two children and settled in Martinez, Georgia.
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Randall found his true vocation in the sales industry, working for several national companies. His skills were impressive, as he was a talented negotiator. Randall could sell almost anything to almost anybody, and he never met a stranger. More importantly, he cared about his customers and their needs. His sales and business acumen propelled him to become a highly sought-after sales trainer and a sales manager, and he shared his wisdom with colleagues around the country at seminars and conventions.
In the early 1980’s, Randall started a business called the Law Book Exchange that specialized in buying and selling law books to law firms and law schools all over the country. He loved calling on attorneys, administrators, and librarians, proudly announcing himself as their “bookie.” This often raised eyebrows in the lobbies of big law firms in Miami, Atlanta, New York, and Washington, D.C. In the 1990’s, he started a business that built and serviced paint booths for automobile dealerships and auto paint shops. Randall was always able to out-work anyone and everyone; he finally decided to retire at 80 years old! He was so proud that this company, Paint Booth Maintenance Service, is still striving today.
In 2015, Randall met Renae and they immediately hit it off. They had so much in common, and their relationship quickly grew into love, admiration, and deep respect. They enjoyed retirement and continued to be involved in community service. They spent time with their friends and neighbors, hosting pool parties and cookouts. They attended Gator football games, as well as events at the Elks Lodge, the Gainesville Woman’s Club, and the Girls Club. Randall and Renae traveled extensively, going on cruises to Alaska and through the rivers of Europe. They also visited family and friends in south Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Renae was a wonderful partner; she loved Randall dearly and took great care of him during his health challenges.
Randall was a fantastic father and he was so proud of his children. He always found time to help with school projects and batting practice. He attended countless ball games and school events to watch and “coach” them over the years. Randall even drove his boys on dates before they turned 16 and always made a good impression with their girlfriends! Later, he also helped care for his grandchildren and was always ready to make an “emergency” pickup from school or ball practice when needed.
Randall was a jack of all trades and a master of many. He could do, figure out, build, and fix just about anything. He was a fierce, left-handed baseball pitcher, a water skier, a great fisherman, an expert open-water sailor, a fearless SCUBA diver, a gifted pool shark, and an ace at backgammon. Neither of his sons were ever able to beat him in arm wrestling. Heck, he even parachuted out of a perfectly good airplane when he was 83 years old! Alas, no one is perfect; Randall was a terrible dancer.
Randall had a wonderful sense of humor and an infectious laugh. His charm and wit was boundless. He had the uncanny ability to connect with all kinds of people. People loved him and loved being around him.
Randall’s generous spirit is legendary. He helped so many people, family, friends, strangers, rivals, and people down on their luck, and he expected nothing in return. He gave away money to folks in need, knowing it would likely never be repaid. He rescued several souls from jail and even tougher situations. He truly loved and cared for people. Randall loved God, and he loved the Florida Gators!
Randall is survived by his partner, Renae, his sons, Randy Brown, of Albany, GA, and Rodney Brown (Kelly), of Jacksonville. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Lauren, Melise, Colter, and Emma, and his great-grandson, Ethan.
A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held on May 2, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143rd Street, Newberry, Florida 32669
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