Joseph Brantley Brown Jr.

1930 - 2013

Brown, Jr., Joseph Brantley 1930 - 2013 Joseph Brantley Brown, Jr., former Dallas County District Judge, and friend to all, passed away on July 30, 2013. Judge Brown was born in Dallas on March 13, 1930, and after graduating from Sunset High School and obtaining his law degree from SMU, he served for two years in the armed forces. He was a founding partner in the law firm of Brown and Hightower and was first elected to public office in 1962. He served as a judge in Dallas County's Justice Court, County Court and District Court until his retirement in 1996, and he then served as a visiting judge in the county's Protective Order Court. Judge Brown was elected President of the Justices of the Peace & Constables Association of Texas in 1972, where he led the effort to bring mandatory education to Texas rural JPs. For his service in the Texas judiciary, Judge Brown was designated an Active Legion of Honor by the Order of DeMolay and received the Dallas Bar Association Distinguished Service Award for Pro Bono Service for ten years prior to his retirement. He was President of the Rosemont Dads' Club, Southwest Unit of the American Cancer Society, House of Hope, and the Acorn Halfway House. Judge Brown was also active over the years in many other charitable and civic organizations, including Westridge, Inc., Routh Street Center, the Mental Health Association of Dallas County, Dallas Free Clinic, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Wynnewood and Oak Cliff Lions Clubs, Dallas County Juvenile Board, and the Kessler Park United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Dallas Bar Association since 1954. Judge Brown is predeceased by his father, Judge Joe B. Brown, Sr., and mother, Evelyn Awalt Brown. In addition to his multitude of adopted family members, Judge Brown is survived his beloved wife, Nell McLendon Brown, as well as his children, Cynthia Brown (and her husband, Robert Bass), William (Kayo) Mullins (and his wife, Pamela Robison), Warren (Scooter) Mullins (and his wife, Julie), and Judge Mary Brown (and her husband, Charles Geilich). Also surviving Judge Brown are his grandchildren: Michelle Mullins, Jonathan Bass, Graham Bass, Miles Mullins, Kayo B. Mullins, Spencer Mullins, Juliet Wynell Waters, Seth Mullins, Jack Waters, Catherine Geilich, and great-grandchild Brinlee Mullins. Judge Brown leaves behind too many friends, followers, and protégés to mention, but special recognition is extended to Kolin Shaw and to Andrew Waters. A memorial service will be held for Judge Joe B. Brown at the Kessler Park United Methodist Church, 1215 Turner, Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, August 3, 2013, 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kessler Park United Methodist Church, AIDS Services of Dallas, or a charity of your choice.