Henry E. Brown

Henry Brown was born on May 1, 1936, in West Orange, New Jersey, at the West Orange Memorial Hospital. He was the son of the late Anna Bell Brown and Henry Brown. Following their untimely passing, he was raised by his aunt and uncle in Orange, New Jersey. Later, the family moved to Montclair, New Jersey, where he resided in the same home for many years.
Henry pursued his education in the Montclair School District, completing elementary, middle, and high school. In 1959, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country honorably until 1963. His dedication to public service continued beyond his military career as he worked for several government agencies. He spent eight years working for the Internal Revenue Service, one year with the U.S. Civil Service, and seven years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms. Henry was later employed by the U.S. Customs & Border Protection as an Inspector, serving in various capacities for 39 years, commencing his service in 1979, and retiring in January 2018. Throughout his career, Henry has been involved in many narcotic seizures within the Port of NY/Newark, later training other officers how to be safe and effective when performing their searches.
Throughout his life, Henry was known for his unwavering dedication, hard work, and commitment to his community. He had a deep passion for jazz, playing the bass for numerous bands for decades. Henry was highly regarded by his friends, family, and colleagues. He was a beacon of hope, service, perseverance, support, and love for those around him. Henry Brown's life is a testament to resilience and dedication, leaving a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of knowing him.
He will be forever missed by his companion and partner, Jacqueline "Jackie" Johnson. Together, they shared a love of music, with Henry often playing bass to accompany Jackie's vocal stylings. After Henry hung up his bow, you could always find Henry in the audience supporting Jackie and the band during their many performances throughout the Montclair area.
Henry's legacy will continue to be honored by his loved ones. He is survived by his dear niece, Patricia Maria Leonard of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; his other nieces, Anita Ziyad of Fort Worth, Texas and Cheryl Chever from Florida; his nephew Glenn Paynter from Norway; his godson, Charles Welborn III of Bloomfield, NJ; and his closest confidants (aka nephews and niece) Tom Flowers of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Renard and Tiffani Barnes of West Orange, NJ, along with a host of his closest friends who cherished being a part of his daily life.