James "Jimmie" W. Brown's Obituary
Jimmie Brown of Hawthorne passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017. He was 72.
Born in Hawthorne, FL on July 30, 1944, Jimmie was preceded in death by his father Leslie Brown, mother Claudia Brown, brothers, Donnie and Warren Brown, sister Betty Seaward and daughter Toni Lucrece.
Jimmie is survived by his wife of 25 years, Cassie and brother, Ernest Lee Brown, Sr. (Nancy) and many beloved nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Jimmie was born at home. As the story goes, his dad gave the doctor a bottle of whiskey. He graduated from Hawthorne High School in 1962 then went to work at the family business, Brown’s Hardware. He took his first mower apart when he was twelve years old.
In 1975, a group of young adults started Hawthorne Volunteer Fire Department. Jimmie was very proud of the 10 years he spent as an EMT.
In 1994, he closed the hardware store but kept the repair shop opened. Jimmie had the reputation of being the best repair man around. People came from miles around for not only his repair, but also his stories and jokes.
Jimmie loved his family and he took care of his aging parents and made sure his young brother, Donnie, who suffered from downs syndrome, always came home for the holidays.
Jimmie married late in life, he was 48. Sometimes, all of a sudden, friends of 20 years see each other in a different light and friendship turns to love. Jimmie and Cassie just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Jimmie did not have any biological children, but children he had. They say you can’t pick your family, but you can.
Some of his children came from Cassie’s previous marriage; Debbie Chapman (Mike), Tammie Hart, Angie Hunter (Greg) and Derek G. and Derrick V. He will be greatly missed by all.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 7919 Highway 301 South, with Fr. Dung Bui as celebrant. Burial will follow in Hawthorne Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME HAWTHORNE, US 301 South at Lake Avenue.
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