Russell Brown Jr.

Russell Brown Jr., middle son of the late Russell and Catherine Brown, was born on June 7, 1930 in Baltimore, MD. He received his education in the Baltimore City Public School System. He grew up in the Baltimore City section known as Sandtown. He made many friends in the Fulton Avenue, Lorman and Baker Streets area. Russell served his country in the United States Armed Forces where he specialized in distribution and repair of weapons. He saw active combat in Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1952. He was an industrious person who loved to work. Some of his jobs included selling newspapers, working on a horse-drawn wagon as an “A-Rab” (selling fruits, vegetables, fish and coal), delivering prescriptions for pharmacies, working in the “ice house”, becoming a short-order cook, ushering at the Baltimore Civic Center and working as a security guard in several establishments. He retired from the United States Postal Service in 1987 after 38 years of devoted service as a mail carrier. He received many citations from the Post Office for safe driving. Once he retired, he worked for Pace, which became Sam’s Club, because it gave him the opportunity to be around people. Russell joined Sweet Hope Free Will Baptist Church in 1954 and served as a member of the Senior Male Usher Board. He was a member of the Prince Hall Masons and was faithful in attendance for many years. He married Marlene Allen in 1955 and from this union was born Karen & Russell III. Russell was a very, very timely person- arriving too early for every occasion or event and leaving on time no matter what was going on. He loved to cook. His specialties were sausage dressing and baking very large turkeys and his signature was his three layer chocolate cake which he baked from scratch. He had an insatiable love for football. He liked playing football in the streets, playing with the Baltimore Rams and watching it on television all day no matter which teams were playing. He made many acquaintances and enjoyed making people laugh. He liked to work jigsaw puzzles, watch movies and would spend hours watching the westerns. Suddenly, on Saturday, February 11, 2012, Russell departed this life at the Veterans Hospital. He will truly be missed by those who endeared themselves to him. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Richard “Danny” and Nathaniel “Lil Bits”, and sons, Leon Robinson, Sr., Norman T. Brown, Sr. and Russell Brown III. Russell leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Marlene; caring daughter, Karen R. Brown; daughters-in-law, Ada Brown, Cynthia Robinson; six grandchildren, Norman T. Brown, Jr. (Tiffany), Alana Watts (Deandre), Chante’ Robinson, Leon Robinson, Jr., Keely Williams, Sabrina Brown; sister-in-law, Yvonne A. Jackson (Otis); a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Russell Brown Jr.

June 7, 1930 - February 11, 2012