Charles Wilford Brown

Published 4:00 am Sunday, May 31, 2015

    Charles Wilford Brown, of Madison, passed from this life on April 8, 2015.

    He was born in Meridian on Nov. 26, 1933, the son of share-croppers. His mother died when he was a child, leaving his father to raise eight young children alone. Times were hard and crops were uncertain. They often had to pick-up with nothing more than the clothes on their backs and start over; however, his father did what was necessary to insure that his family stayed together. They were broke, but their spirits were never broken.

    It is, without a doubt, this humble up-bringing that made him the person he was.

    Mr. Brown moved to Jackson in the 50’s to find work and in the early 70’s, he made his home in Madison with his one true love, Gladys Dunnigan, a woman who meant the world to him. She passed away almost 40 years ago, taken way too soon by breast cancer.

    Mr. Brown was a Christian, both kind, and compassionate. He never met a stranger and helping others was his passion. He loved animals; not a mean bone in his body. He lived a simple life by choice and believed that a man’s character and good name were more valuable than anything money could buy. He was a veteran of the US Air Force and retired from Hederman Brothers Printing after more than 25 years of service.

    He leaves behind a son, Michael Wilford Brown; grand-daughter, Melodie Carol Brown Vick (husband, Matthew and daughter, Maci Claire); daughter-in-law, Hope Brown Wilson, (husband, John and son, Richard Tyler “Shorty” Wilson); sister, Reta Morland (husband, BL); brother, Talmadge “Norris” Brown (wife, Becky), numerous nieces and nephews, and his much loved puppy, Bubba.

    He is preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Dunnigan Brown; his father John Lawrence Brown; his mother, Mary Catherine Brown, and brothers, Preston L. Brown, John D. Brown, Robert “Bob” Brown, Malcolm “Mac” Brown, and Clarence “David” Brown.

    The family would like to express heart-felt thanks to Oscar and Shelley Self, and Winfred “Wimp”, Barbara, and Randy Jordan for their selfless acts of kindness over the years.  Mr. Brown was a special soul. Even in death he continued to give as he did in life by donating his body to UMC’s Anatomical Gift Program.

    Should you wish, memorials may be made in his name to the MS Animal Rescue League or the Susan G. Komen Foundation.