Richard Anthony Brown

Anthony Brown passed away on October 7, 2025, in Hernando, Mississippi after a 2-year struggle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 2, 1960, and was just 64 years old. He had been receiving hospice home care for 40 days and died in his home, as he had wished, next to his loving wife and surrounded by his children, brother, close family, and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his father, Calvin Vance Brown; maternal grandparents Henry Burlon James Sr. and Zula Mae Margie James; paternal grandparents Calvin Dewitt Brown and Ruby Brown; and stepbrother Robert Thweatt. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Desiree Denise (Dee Dee) Blackstone Brown; his daughter Brennan Ashley Allen and husband Sam Allen and their children – Tobias Truitt (Toby) and Zula Jean (Zula); his son Richard Jackson Brown (Jackson); his mother Patricia Ann Thweatt and stepfather Tom Thweatt; his brother Barry Allen Brown (Allen) and family; his two sisters Angela Dawn Kyser and husband Doug Kyser and their children, Theresa Renee Davis and husband Randy Davis and their children; and stepbrothers Michael Wayne Thweatt and wife Tanya Bowen Thweatt and their daughter, and Thomas Ellis Thweatt and his family. Anthony grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and Oxford, Mississippi. He was a bit of a wild one in his youth. He loved live music and classic Rock-n-Roll. He and his brother Allen started out working together building cabinets and creating beautiful outdoor spaces, including decks, pergolas, and their own homes. Anthony then began a career as a furniture craftsman, repairing and refinishing antique quality wood furniture, which he eventually grew into a small business with many loyal customers. He was a talented craftsman and loved building things. After he married his first wife, JoElla Duhon, and became a parent, he built a house next to his mother's home in Oxford, Mississippi where he raised his children for many years. Anthony was a dedicated and caring father, navigating shared custody with his first wife. He loved his children and always put his kids first, parenting with patience and care. He enjoyed cooking for his family, tending a garden, famous for both his flowers and his tomatoes. While Anthony didn't really swim, he always kept a pool for his family and loved ones. Later in life, Anthony reconnected with Dee Dee and they rekindled their connection from high school days. They were married on April 27, 2013, and built a happy life together filled with love, family, and grandchildren. He was a devoted husband and partner; they traveled and had many adventures together. Anthony felt most at home in the mountains and hiking in forests. He had a particular interest in finding new trails that led to waterfalls - a favorite activity. They often visited the Smokey Mountains, the Ozarks, and many state parks in the South with their good friends. They even made it out to Yosemite and Olympic National Parks - always chasing waterfalls. Anthony was diagnosed with AML on October 8, 2023. Over his last two years, he endured many diagnostic and curative treatments for the leukemia and many infections due to his compromised immune system. This included extensive chemotherapy and two failed bone marrow transplants. He did everything right – all that was asked of him by his doctors – with Dee Dee by his side, every day, for the whole journey. He is now at rest. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts or contributions be directed to support the National Park Foundation. For those wishing to honor Anthony's memory, consider donating blood to the American Red Cross. Over the course of Anthony's illness and treatment, he received 618 units of transfused blood. A memorial service and gathering will be held on Sunday, October 12, 2025, 1:30-5:30pm at Bolin Grove Farms, 4428 Getwell Road South, Hernando, MS 38632. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard, please visit our floral store.