Obituary for Robert Brown
Born October 13, 1940, in Mount Hope, Alabama, Robert Auzzie Brown was the youngest of six children born to
the union of the late Jim and Mable Lee Brown. He was called from labor to rest on March 11, 2022, at his
residence in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In 1946, the Brown family relocated to Russellville, Alabama, where he would spend the remainder of his
childhood. He professed Christ as his Savior in his youth and was baptized at the Gaines Street Baptist Church of
Russellville, Alabama. Robert’s formative through secondary education years were completed at the Reedtown
School. He was a member of the Class of 1957.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1959. During his years of service to his
country, he completed tours of duty in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and other posts in the Pacific working as an
electrician.
Following an honorable discharge from active duty in 1962, Robert enrolled in Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee,
Alabama, to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. The Jim Crow laws of Franklin County, Alabama
prevented young African Americans from obtaining a math education beyond 8 th grade – a deficit he was forced
to make up during his collegiate years. Robert would go on to obtain his degree with the Class of 1968.
He married Catherine Elizabeth Coleman on December 23, 1965. The family of Houston and Mary J. Coleman
had been neighbors with the Brown family for nearly two decades. Their union was blessed with two children,
Darryl Lamar and Andrea Lenice.
Following graduation from Tuskegee, he secured employment with Tennessee Valley Authority which brought
the young family to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1968. He worked as an electrical engineer in various capacities
with the agency for 26 years before retirement.
Robert and Cathy united under Christian experience with the Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church under
the pastorate of the late Reverend Harold K. Lester on June 15, 1977. He would go on to faithfully serve on the
Board of Deacons (including eight years as Chairman), Finance Committee, Corporate Board, Benevolence
Committee, Building Committee, Culinary Committee and as a Sunday School teacher.
In addition to his service to his church, he spent his retirement years diligently serving on the Executive Board of
the Chattanooga Community Kitchen and found much joy in serving the underprivileged of his community.
He was initiated in the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1973 and held a lifetime
membership.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Mable Lee Brown; sisters, Doris Jean Brown Hamilton and
Katerene Brown (Herman) Willingham, both of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; and brother, Thomas (Edna) Brown,
Las Vegas, Nevada; in-laws, Jessie W. Brown, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Mary G. Brown, New York, New
York, Wildredge C. (Charlie) McGuire and John Coleman, both of Russellville, Alabama, Ora C. Wilson and
Norris Coleman, both of Louisville, Kentucky.
He leaves to cherish wonderful memories his beloved and devoted wife of 56 years, Cathy; son, Darryl (Sara)
Brown; daughter, Andrea B. (Sherman) Franklin, both of Chattanooga, Tennessee; grandchildren, Houston
Brown, Nashville, Tennessee, Justin, Ethan, and Maya Brown, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; brothers, Waddell
Brown, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Melvin Brown, New York, New York; in- laws, Janie Mae Wallace,
Tacoma, Washington, Sadie Robinson, Sue (Bobby) Woodard, James (Georgia) Coleman, Charlie Coleman, and
Carolyn Coleman, all of Louisville, Kentucky, George (Patricia) Coleman, Russellville, Alabama, and Cliff
Hamilton, Huntsville, Alabama; goddaughters, Benita L. (Jamie) Spicer, Dallas, TX, Moya and Bria Morgan,
both of Birmingham, AL; devoted friends, Jim (Dean) Wiley, Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Cornelius (Gladys) Mance
and Sue Russell, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Visitation at the funeral home will be Monday, March 21, 2022 from 4 pm – 6 pm. The funeral will be Tuesday, March 22nd at 11:30 am at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Interment: Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.
the union of the late Jim and Mable Lee Brown. He was called from labor to rest on March 11, 2022, at his
residence in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In 1946, the Brown family relocated to Russellville, Alabama, where he would spend the remainder of his
childhood. He professed Christ as his Savior in his youth and was baptized at the Gaines Street Baptist Church of
Russellville, Alabama. Robert’s formative through secondary education years were completed at the Reedtown
School. He was a member of the Class of 1957.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy in January 1959. During his years of service to his
country, he completed tours of duty in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and other posts in the Pacific working as an
electrician.
Following an honorable discharge from active duty in 1962, Robert enrolled in Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee,
Alabama, to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. The Jim Crow laws of Franklin County, Alabama
prevented young African Americans from obtaining a math education beyond 8 th grade – a deficit he was forced
to make up during his collegiate years. Robert would go on to obtain his degree with the Class of 1968.
He married Catherine Elizabeth Coleman on December 23, 1965. The family of Houston and Mary J. Coleman
had been neighbors with the Brown family for nearly two decades. Their union was blessed with two children,
Darryl Lamar and Andrea Lenice.
Following graduation from Tuskegee, he secured employment with Tennessee Valley Authority which brought
the young family to Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1968. He worked as an electrical engineer in various capacities
with the agency for 26 years before retirement.
Robert and Cathy united under Christian experience with the Orchard Knob Missionary Baptist Church under
the pastorate of the late Reverend Harold K. Lester on June 15, 1977. He would go on to faithfully serve on the
Board of Deacons (including eight years as Chairman), Finance Committee, Corporate Board, Benevolence
Committee, Building Committee, Culinary Committee and as a Sunday School teacher.
In addition to his service to his church, he spent his retirement years diligently serving on the Executive Board of
the Chattanooga Community Kitchen and found much joy in serving the underprivileged of his community.
He was initiated in the Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1973 and held a lifetime
membership.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Mable Lee Brown; sisters, Doris Jean Brown Hamilton and
Katerene Brown (Herman) Willingham, both of Muscle Shoals, Alabama; and brother, Thomas (Edna) Brown,
Las Vegas, Nevada; in-laws, Jessie W. Brown, Fayetteville, North Carolina, Mary G. Brown, New York, New
York, Wildredge C. (Charlie) McGuire and John Coleman, both of Russellville, Alabama, Ora C. Wilson and
Norris Coleman, both of Louisville, Kentucky.
He leaves to cherish wonderful memories his beloved and devoted wife of 56 years, Cathy; son, Darryl (Sara)
Brown; daughter, Andrea B. (Sherman) Franklin, both of Chattanooga, Tennessee; grandchildren, Houston
Brown, Nashville, Tennessee, Justin, Ethan, and Maya Brown, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; brothers, Waddell
Brown, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Melvin Brown, New York, New York; in- laws, Janie Mae Wallace,
Tacoma, Washington, Sadie Robinson, Sue (Bobby) Woodard, James (Georgia) Coleman, Charlie Coleman, and
Carolyn Coleman, all of Louisville, Kentucky, George (Patricia) Coleman, Russellville, Alabama, and Cliff
Hamilton, Huntsville, Alabama; goddaughters, Benita L. (Jamie) Spicer, Dallas, TX, Moya and Bria Morgan,
both of Birmingham, AL; devoted friends, Jim (Dean) Wiley, Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Cornelius (Gladys) Mance
and Sue Russell, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Visitation at the funeral home will be Monday, March 21, 2022 from 4 pm – 6 pm. The funeral will be Tuesday, March 22nd at 11:30 am at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. Interment: Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.