Obituary of SFC James "Jim" A. Brown

Sergeant First Class James “Jim” Arnett Brown, retired, died peacefully in his Columbia, South Carolina home on December 23, 2020 at the age of 79.

SFC Brown was born July 9, 1941 in Coalgate, Oklahoma to the late Milton and Lilly Collier Brown. After graduating from Colbert High School in 1960, he joined the United States Army where he served in Medical Supply until 1976. He was then reclassified into the Commissary system in 1976 before his retirement in 1980.  He then moved into civil service with the Defense Commissary Agency where he moved to Fort Jackson in 1985. There, he was the Commissary store manager until retiring in 2002.

SFC Brown was a brave and loyal soldier, as well as a loving father and grandfather. He married the late Mary Ann Brooks Brown in 1961. With his career in the Army and Commissary system, SFC Brown traveled the world, being stationed in places including New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, Germany, Korea, Italy and Puerto Rico.

After his retirement, James started his own lawn care service in the Columbia-area and also served as a Deacon at Pine Lakes Baptist Church in Hopkins. Following his wife’s death in 2015, James married his childhood friend, Olevia Graham in 2017. He loved sitting down each morning to read The State newspaper and the “Dear Abby” section, cheering on the South Carolina Gamecocks, taking cruises, visiting the beach and mountains as well as spending time with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Olevia; son, Jimmy Brown (Columbia, SC); daughter, Debbie and Joseph Campbell (Elgin, SC); granddaughter, Chaunte’ and Dave Turner (Summerville, SC); brother, Bo Brown (Platter, OK); sister, Mary Taylor (Calera, OK). He’s also survived by Olevia’s children Annetta, Carol and Elmer, 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren as well as a host of loving friends and relatives. He is preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Mary Ann Brown; his parents; and Olevia’s daughter, Leona.

Visitation will take place Mon., Dec. 28^th at 11am prior to the 1pm service at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Burial with military honors will immediately follow. Funeral arrangements are provided by Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park.

To view the service via live stream at https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/348526860