Obituary of Spencer Brown

Spencer Lee Brown Sr., 85, of Columbia passed away on Friday, May 11, 2012 after a long illness. A private graveside service for family and relatives will be held at noon on Monday, May 14, 2012 at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Garners Ferry Road. A visitation will be at Greenlawn Funeral Home one hour prior to the service. On-line condolences may be sent to www.greenlawn-columbia.com. The family has entrusted Greenlawn Funeral Home with the arrangements. Born in Bishopville, Mr. Brown was a long time resident of Columbia and Elgin. He was the son of the late Chaney Reeves and Almaree Boykin Brown. A career employee of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, Mr. Brown retired as Chief of Medical Administrative Services of the G. Werber Bryan campus. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening, traveling with Laura and tinkering in his shop. Mr. Brown was very active in church and served his Lord for many years as church deacon, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School and working with other church members providing benevolent help to the needy in the community. Mr. Brown proudly served his country in the Army National Guard. Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 67 years, Laura Branham Brown of Columbia; a son Spencer (Joan) Brown Jr. of Columbia and daughter Sandra (Tim) Kernen of Gainesville, GA; grandchildren, Spencer (Ashley) Brown, III of Simpsonville, Dana (Wally) Doyle of Myrtle Beach, Leigh (Mark) Wilkinson of Chattanooga, TN, and TJ Kernen and Jared Kernen of Gainesville, GA; great grandchildren, Natalie, Zane, Ian, Miranda, Ella and Willow Wilkinson of Chattanooga, TN; Spencer IV, Sydney and Griffin Brown of Simpsonville; Caroline and Anna Doyle of Myrtle Beach; sisters, Venetta Chassereau of Columbia and Elizabeth (J.W.) Barrett of Camden; and many nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society.