Jesse Melvin Brown, 84, of Tifton passed away peacefully on Monday, August 11, 2014, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Rev. Landon Alberson officiating. Mr. Brown will be laid to rest at Omega Cemetery. Troy Murphy, Jeb DeLoach, Jabie Tomlinson, Randy Tomlinson, Troy Barber and Charles Benefield will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Brown was born on July 10, 1930 in Nichols, Florida to the late Charlie Edward Brown and Ethel Lee Pendley Brown. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Coleman Brown; a daughter, Nancy Brown; five siblings; and his second wife, Bronnie Giddens Brown. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and is a Purple Heart recipient. He retired from the Georgia Department of Transportation. He loved camping and enjoyed putting puzzles together.
Mr. Brown is survived by his sister, Imogene Gandy of Bartow, Florida; his brother, Jerry Vernon Brown of Arkansas; his children and their spouses, Mike Giddens of Tifton, Connie and Walter DeLoach of Tifton, Anita and Edwin Taylor of Savannah, Becky Giddens Brinkley of Tifton, Rita Giddens Tomlinson of Tifton and Eric Giddens of Adel; his grandchildren and their spouses, Lori and Troy Murphy of Kingsland, Bo and Angie DeLoach of Piedmont, Alabama, Jeremy Little of Tifton, Heather and Chris Grimes of Tifton, Jeb and Reba DeLoach of Tifton and Kelli and Wayne Smith of Pavo, Jabie and Ranya Tomlinson of Valdosta, Brooke and Shannon Holt of Adel, Blake Giddens of Thomaston, Erica Giddens of Adel, Hollie Tomlinson of Tifton and Jared Thaxton of Valdosta; and eight great-grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Meals on Wheels, P. O. Box 2053, Tifton, GA 31793; Hospice of Tiftarea, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793; or the charity of your choice.