Jack Cheatham Brown Sr.

Reflections of Life Jack C. Brown entered this life on December 5, 1931, to William I. and Eva Brooks Brown. He was the 12th of 13 children and the last surviving sibling in his family. Jack was a native Baltimorean who spent the first years of life in West Baltimore, eventually moving to Morgan Park at age ten and then residing next door to his childhood home for the remainder of his life. Jack played center for the Douglas Ducks football team at Frederick Douglas High School. He graduated high school with a concentration in engineering. Upon graduation, Jack was drafted into the Navy to serve in the Korean War. He entered bootcamp in Bainbridge, Maryland, and chose to enter submarine school to utilize his engineering education. At that time, African Americans could only serve as cooks and valets. Only 45 men entered submarine school and Jack was one of two African Americans. Jack successfully completed 3,000 submarine dives and resurfacings. He was assigned to the Navy Yard at Port Smith, New Hampshire to recommission a submarine given to the Italian Navy. His next assignment was back in New London, Connecticut, on a submarine where he patrolled the Coast of Russia, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Azores and Bermuda. Jack learned to operate all the functions of a submarine and because of this achievement, he received a number one rating in service and was awarded a National Defense Ribbon. With this accomplishment, Jack sought an opportunity to be assigned to the first atomic ship. Although unsuccessful, he served a new command on the Thrasher, located in Groton, Connecticut. Jack stated, “this is where he met his first date with destiny.” He chose to visit his mother on the ship’s first voyage and it sank taking the crew of 44 men. Jack was the only surviving member of the crew and ended his Navy career after four years with an honorable discharge as an EM 3. After leaving the Navy, Jack applied for employment around the city and landed a job at Sparrows Point as a welder working on the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (895). During this time he was invited to take the entrance exam for the Police Academy. He was one of 400 applicants and only one of six African Americans. Jack passed the test and was assigned as a foot patrolman in the Johns Hopkins Hospital Community. He wanted to apply for motor traffic, but African Americans could not ride in police cars. Later, Jack became a detective and served in that capacity for seven years. Jack was assigned to Homicide/Robbery and awarded a Bronze Star for apprehending mobsters from Chicago. While chasing the mobsters, a bullet went through the windshield of his car, but Jack was not injured. According to Jack, “this was his second date with destiny.” After a 22-year distinguished career, Jack retired from the Baltimore City Police Department. Jack’s most consequential assignment yet was investigating prescription drug theft at Liberty Medical Center where he met the lovely Edith Brown. She was employed as a nurse at the Center and they were married on April 6, 1985. Jack was a member of Ames Memorial United Methodist Church since his birth. While at Ames, he served on the Trustee Board for 15 years. Jack felt the Lord brought him through two brushes with fate and he thought that he should completely turn his life over to the Lord. His last date with destiny was a car accident in 1997. It was a head-on collision and Jack survived. He came to worship at Northwood Appold United Methodist Church in his quest for a purpose in life. He served on the Trustee Board over the last twelve years. If there was a way to improve the church’s esthetic Jack would research, fund and complete the mission. Jack lived a life of service as a Mason and Past Master of the Masonic Order EWS Peck #82. In Jack’s spare time he collected cars, but later in life preferred to listen to jazz and enjoy his favorite refreshing drink. Jack leaves to mourn his wife Edith of 41 years, his son Jack Brown, Jr., and daughter-in-law Jacqueline Brown, a grandson Nicholas Brown, a granddaughter Jessica (Brown) Park and her husband Ryan Park, along with two grandchildren Madelin and Skylar Park. Others left to cherish his unforgettable, but humble life are relatives, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and his church family who will miss him dearly.

Tributes

Jack Cheatham Brown Sr.

December 5, 1931 - May 3, 2026