Royce Brown

Royce Brown, 92, Commerce, GA, passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025.

He was born on June 6, 1932, in Madison County, Georgia. Royce was the son of the late George Washington Brown and the late Willie Hix Brown. 

Royce graduated from Ila High School in 1949 and soon thereafter, enlisted in the United States Navy, where he dutifully served his country during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1953, he returned to Madison County and married his “high school sweetheart”, Jackie. They were married for 70 years until Jackie‘s passing in 2023.

Soon after they were married, they moved to Atlanta where Royce worked for the U.S. Post Office and their son Tony was born. They later moved to Athens where Royce continued to work for the Post Office while he attended the University of Georgia, and their second son, Danny, was born. 

After college, Royce accepted a job with DeKalb Seed Company and they moved to the small south Georgia town of Arabi, where Royce made many lifelong friends. While in Arabi, Royce owned and operated Arabi Grain & Elevator Company, was a member of the Crisp County Board of Education, and Little League baseball coach for Tony and Danny. 

In 1969 the family moved back to Athens, where Royce was employed by the University of Georgia to manage its Agriculture Experiment Farm in Oconee County. Later Royce was employed by Gold Kist where he retired in 1984.

In 1975 Royce and Jackie built a home on their Madison County farm, where Royce raised chickens and cattle for several years. Royce was a longtime member of Erastus Christian Church. Royce discovered he had a hidden talent as a woodcarver in the early 1990’s and hosted many carving lessons for the residents of the Erastus community in his “carving house”. He and Jackie made a terrific team. He would do the carving and she would do the painting. Countless people enjoyed receiving their finished products as gifts throughout the years.

Along with his parents, Royce is proceeded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Fortson Brown, his brother, Tommy Mack Brown; sisters, Madge Burnette, Devene Thurmond and Theo Thomas.

Survivors include sons Tony “T Graham” (Sheila) Brown, and Danny (Patti) Brown; grandchildren include Acme (Lexi) Brown and Molly Brown; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services: Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 2 PM at Ivie Funeral Home Chapel, 1053 South Elm St., Commerce, GA 30529. Interment will follow at the Hix Cemetery in Madison County.

Family to receive friends Thursday, May 8, 2025 from noon to 2 PM at Ivie Funeral Home.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookside Senior Living for their loving care of Royce the past six years.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Erastus Christian Church, 2050 Neese Commerce Road, Commerce, GA 30530.