Emmery Brown

Emmery Otties Brown, 87, peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, February 3, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral service honoring and celebrating Emmery's remarkable life will take place on Saturday, February 8, at 2:00 PM ET (1:00 PM CT) at the Higdon Free Holiness Church, officiated by Brother Edwin Spurgeon, Brother Jody Gray, and Brother Marian Lawson. Following the service, Emmery will be laid to rest at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Bryant, AL.

Family and friends are invited to visit and pay their respects at the church on Thursday and Friday from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM ET (3:00 - 7:00 PM CT), and on Saturday from 12:00 PM until the service begins.

Emmery was born on May 6, 1937, in DeKalb County, AL, to the late William Arthur and Margret Frazier Brown. Family and church were central to his life. In 1956, he married his beloved wife, Joyce Brown, and together they raised a large and loving family. Emmery served as an Elder at Higdon Holiness Church, where his steadfast faith influenced his life and inspired those around him. His kindness and love for others were evident in all his interactions.

He dedicated 26 years to Jackson Water Heater, spent 15 years in metal fabrication at Kilco, and pursued a lifelong passion for farming, gardening, and caring for cattle and hogs. Emmery's significant contributions to his church and community have left a lasting impact, and he will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 68 years, Joyce Godwin Brown; children, Youthel (Dedra) Brown, Vicky (Danny) Forshee, and Roger (Lynn) Brown; sisters, Dorothy Wooten and Faye Edmonds; grandchildren, Kelvin Brown, Amy (Kyle) Middlebrooks, Kellie (Shannon) Byrd, Dustin (Faith) McKenzie, Darren (Brittney) Brown, Derek (Larissa) Brown, and Leah (Nicolas) LaHayne; great-grandchildren, Kaden & Konner Brown, Emily, Blake & Grayson Middlebrooks, Mackenzie (Preston) Guest, Makayla and Maddie-Klaire Byrd, Mallory & A.J. McKenzie, Easton Edgeworth, Aria, Aralynn, Luke, Logan & Reagan Brown, and Stephanie, Raya, Alyson, Karaleah & Jade LaHayne. Additionally, he is survived by numerous extended family as well as a host of community and church family. 

In addition to his parents, Emmery was preceded in death by his stepmother, Gustie Hudgens Brown, children, Alvie McKenzie and Debra Brown; siblings, Estelle Martin, Ardelle Brown, Odell White, Willis Brown, Unice Brown, Ilene Lowery, Delmos Brown, Elmos Brown, Emma Freeman, Afies Brown, Jewel Freeman, Arthur Brown, Jr., Laura Lee Robinson, Annie Oney, Herbert Freeman, and Ethel Shrader; and his grandchild, Katie Lynn Brown. 

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to special friend Marian Lawson. 

Emmery will be greatly missed by all who had the joy of knowing him, and his legacy of love and devotion will be remembered always.

Livestream of the funeral service will be available at https://youtube.com/live/oxYrel_N39U