Jadie Allen Brown Jr.
Montevallo

Jadie Allen Brown Jr., native son and lifelong resident of Montevallo, passed away Monday, Sept. 14, at the age of 95.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, at the First United Methodist Church of Montevallo, from 6-8 p.m. His funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Montevallo on Friday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. followed immediately by a graveside service at the Montevallo City Cemetery.
J.A. was preceded in death by his parents, Jadie Allen Brown Sr. and Carrie Hunter Simmers Brown. In addition he was preceded in death by his sister, Tessie Mae Brown Higgins, and first wife and mother of his children Mary Lee Garrett Brown.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Mabry Lewis Brown; four children, Pam (Raymond) Phagan, Allen Brown, Kathy (John) Draper, and Paul (Denise) Brown; nine grandchildren, Philip (Alicia) Melton, Allison Melton Carpenter, Adam (Jessica) Melton, Jay Draper, Garrett (Caitlin) Harper, Ben Draper, Jack Brown, Tucker Brown, Brady Brown; and five great-grandchildren, Brooks Melton, Arden Melton, Carter Carpenter, Caleb Carpenter, and Eliza Carpenter. Also, John Lewis, Mary Ellen Lewis Garrett (Mike), Jamie Garrett, John (Katie) Garrett, Laura (Brandon) Chandler, Ashley (Jerod) Brown, Grace (Zach) Fried. In addition Mr. Brown is survived by numerous nieces and cousins.
Mr. Brown followed in his father’s footsteps in that he was one of the town’s most beloved and loyal citizens. At the age of eleven, he began his entrepreneurial journey by owning and operating a popcorn and peanut stand of the corner of Main and Middle streets. He attended the University of Alabama and then transferred to the Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Okla. Upon completion of his degree, he moved back to Montevallo to purchase the Brown Trading Co. from his father. At the time of his father’s death in 1953, he took ownership of Brown Moulding Co. Under his guidance and leadership he grew this business into the largest wood moulding manufacturer in the United States of America. During this period of time, Brown Moulding Co. was producing wood mouldings for one third of the housing starts in the U.S.A. Brown Moulding Co. merged with U. S. Industries, Inc., in 1970.
In addition to his business affairs, Mr. Brown was actively involved as a civic leader with 33-1/2 years of service on the Montevallo City Council, serving as Finance Chairman. He also served 30 years on the Board of Directors at the Merchants and Planters Bank, in leadership positions at the First United Methodist Church, and the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce. In 1981, he was awarded the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award and then the Good Neighbor Award in 1991. He made many contributions to the Montevallo Athletic Field, Pelham Fire Department, Montevallo Boy Scouts, and Parnell Library. He was a major contributor to the Montevallo First United Methodist Church, the Montevallo Presbyterian Church and the University of Montevallo.
In 1995, he received an award for 45 years of distinguished service to the City of Montevallo. With 89 years of membership, he loved his church, First Methodist Church of Montevallo. He actively attended Sunday School and church services until the time of his death. A hustler in the truest sense of the word, J. A., a man whose keen and inquisitive mind would not rest until it had found a practical solution for every problem that confronted him. J.A. loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. J.A. Brown Jr. lived a full life and lived it well. He loved Montevallo and the people in it. He made things better for the town and never stopped helping his fellow man. He liked results, not recognition. Many people in and around Montevallo have been helped by his quiet steady, behind-the-scenes generosity and never knew he was involved. That was the way he liked it.
He leaves a lasting legacy and will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and the town of Montevallo. The family feels especially blessed to have been surrounded by many kind and loving caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, please help us to continue J. A.’s tradition of giving to others, by making memorials to the Montevallo Historical Commission on behalf of the Main Street Beautification and Renovation Project, address 540 Shelby Street Montevallo, AL. 35115.