Anthony Lee Brown

Okay, it's like this: On Tuesday, March 15, 1938, Leroy and Lizzie Brown welcomed Anthony Lee into this world. He was the 7th of Leroy's ten children. Tony grew up in a large, loving family. He did all the things boys did: got into mischief, engaged in pranks with his friends, and was known as an incredible marble shooter. When Russell says he lost his marbles, this is what he meant. Tony was a product of the Cleveland public school system; He attended Mayflower, Brownell Junior high, and graduated from East Technical High School in 1958. Tony loved to dance, and during rec his best dance partner was his sister Thelma. In high school, Tony was on the track team. He was the fastest in the city among Class B schools. He ran the 220 and was so good he received college scholarships. His goal was to run in the Olympics, but he swapped college for fatherhood because in 1958 he married Ellen Ann Thurman, and his son Anthony David Brown was born.
He and Ellen raised Tony with the absolute best of everything. He was so proud to be Tony's father. It was his greatest joy in life. Working hard to support his family, Tony mentioned that he often did not see his dad in the mornings or the evenings. However, his father was home in the middle of the day and prepared his lunch when Tony came home from school. If you knew Tony Brown, you knew his culinary skills were not the greatest, so it was a wonder his son survived and grew into the big strapping man that he is! Tony's marriage to Ellen was ending when his grandson, Tony Jr. was born.
Tony believed in work. He had a work ethic that very few could ever emulate. Tony worked at Sprayon, a division of Sherwin-Williams for 39 ½ years. He was so proud of the fact that at that time he only missed 9 days of work. Who does that? Tony often worked two jobs. As a youngster he delivered newspapers, in junior high he worked for Fish Furniture and as an adult he worked at Bellaire JCB, Square D Lumber, Crestmont Cadillac and Charlie's Crab.
Tony loved his family and was very protective of them. He also liked to play. The little ones knew him as 'Billy Bob', 'Fat Jack Jackson', and 'Willie Skeet'. They would ask if he could come out and play. His sister Mary always smiled when she talked about what a good person and great brother he was.
Tony was enthusiastic about sports. He always rooted for the home team. And track and field- need I say more? He was also passionate about winning. Whatever he played, he played to win. Whenever he lost, he was shocked because he never cut his opponent any slack.
At the wedding reception of a colleague, he met BJ Lewis and in 1988, she became BJ Brown. They only had one real fight (BIG argument) in their 36-year marriage. That was enough.
Tony was always strong and healthy. He took good care of himself and was active. When he became ill, everyone was surprised. In 2021, he was diagnosed with shingles and in 2024, it was found he had angiosarcoma, a rare liver cancer. At 86, Tony wasn't strong enough to fight through all of the procedures and setbacks. He stayed with us through Christmas and quietly left just before sunrise on December 26th.
Missing him terribly are his son, Anthony David Brown Sr. (Zena), his brother Russell (Carolyn), his sisters, Mary Caldwell and Thelma Fellows, his grandchildren, Anthony David Brown Jr. (Monique), Diana Harrison (Calvin), and Allan Brown, two great-grandchildren, Ava and Braylen, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, brother-in-law, O'Jay Lewis and, of course, his wife BJ. We loved him 'til he left us.
Lovingly submitted,
Tony's Family