Mr. Henry Brown

Henry Hartford Brown, Sr., 97, of Saginaw, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home, with his family at his side, on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. Henry was born on August 31, 1922 in Kildare, Texas, the third oldest of eleven children of the late George Wesley Brown and Mattie Edmond Brown. He grew up well rooted in Methodism, attending the C.M.E. church with his mother and the M.E. Church with his father. He excelled in track and field and basketball at Perfection High School, where he graduated in 1939. While attending Texas College in Tyler, Texas during World War II, Henry volunteered for the U.S Army Reserve. He was called to active duty in 1943 and served as an artillery gunner in the European Theater, attaining the rank of corporal. Upon his release from active duty in 1945, he returned to Texas College to complete his degree in Biology. In 1945, while on leave from the Army, Henry traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska where he was introduced to Margaret Concetta Griffin. Later that year he wrote his mother, “I think I am going to ask Mrs. Griffin if I can take care of her daughter for the rest of her life.” The couple were married on August 5, 1946, in St. Joseph, Missouri, and lived more than 73 glorious years together. Margaret, the love of Henry’s life, preceded him in death in February 2020. Henry was initiated in 1947 into the Gamma Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Texas College. He became a member of the Iota Chi Lambda Chapter of Saginaw, Michigan. On April 1, 1980, he was recognized as a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. In 1949, Henry and Margaret moved to Saginaw, Michigan. Henry was called back to active duty to serve in the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge from the Army and return to civilian life, he worked for several years as an agent for the United Insurance Company. He later went to work for the City of Saginaw as Housing Manager with the Saginaw Housing Commission, and was subsequently appointed Executive Director of the commission, the first African American to hold that position. During Henry’s stewardship of the Saginaw Housing Commission, four senior high rises were built and one of the first home ownership programs in the state was instituted. As a member of the Executive Committee of the State Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), Henry introduced and facilitated training programs that were instrumental in raising the staff professionalism of housing commissions throughout the state. He retired from the City of Saginaw in 1984 after 25 years of dedicated service. Henry was a life member of the NAACP; volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters Amachi program; served on the board of directors of the Visiting Nurse Special Services; and volunteered as a youth mentor. On moving to Saginaw in 1949 Henry and Margaret united with Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and remained members there for over 70 years. At Bethel A.M.E., Henry served as a Sunday School superintendent, teacher, class leader and Boy Scout leader; and was a member of the Steward and Trustee Boards, Senior Choir and Usher Board No. 1. He helped to establish the Bethel A.M.E. Church Federal Credit Union where he served on the Board of Directors and was an active volunteer. He was part of the team that helped secure the property for Bethel A.M.E.’s present worship, office, education and fellowship center. Henry loved God and his church, and loved to read the bible daily. He took joy in traveling with his wife, in sharing experiences with his family, and in his pastimes of solitaire, dominoes, and b word search puzzles. Though he had a quiet demeanor, he always spoke with clarity and directness. His family and friends admired and appreciated his many and apt expressions of wisdom to live by. Henry loved to work out in his yard weekly and believed wholeheartedly in keeping a beautiful lawn, which he considered his work of art. His care and pride influenced other homeowners in the neighborhood to beautify and maintain their own yards. It was just one of many ways in which he had a positive impact on his community. He enjoyed cooking and was famous for his French toast. Henry leaves behind to cherish his memory: his children Henry (Martha) Hartford Brown, Jr., of Beaumont, Texas, Pamela Brown Maloy of Saginaw, and Mark (Dan) Brown of Seattle, Washington; his foster children Curtis (Jovett) W. Hampton of Houston, Texas, and Princella Linzy of Saginaw. He delighted in the grandchildren who now celebrate his life: Darius David Alexander Brown, Sean Michael Brown and Henry Hartford Brown, III, all of Texas; Ryan Brown Maloy of Saginaw; Debria (Nese) Hunter of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Normetta Hampton, Deon Hampton, Brittany Hampton, Curtis W. Hampton Jr., Conrad Hampton, and Galen Hampton, all of Texas; Deana Linzy Bentley, Johnnie Witherspoon, and Roshell (Terry) Wade, all of Saginaw; and in nine great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Henry is survived also by his dear sister, Glendolyn Mitchell of Los Angeles, California; his sister-in-law Dorothy Mae Yates of Menifee, California; his goddaughters Corri Lynn Wofford and Myra Selby; and godson Maurice McAfee; and by a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends, including special friends Roberta McGowan, Mable Freeman, The Kapp Family, The Boarden Family, The Anna Williams Family, Sylvia McAfee, Martha Lockhart, Tammie Gillespie, Yvette Wofford, and Dr. Roslyn McQueen; and by special daughters Ann Turpin-Williams and Vicki Kapp-Salinas. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, son-in-law Ozzie L. Maloy, sisters Era Vae Sanders, Carrie D. Raines, Traverteen Palmore, and Clever D. Brown and brothers Obbie Z. Brown, Aldridge E. Brown, William Brown, Rev. Victor Brown, George W. Brown, Jr. Henry’s family extends special thanks to caregivers Kelli, Sharonda, and ComForCare Home Care; and extra special thanks to Wellspring Lutheran Home Care and Hospice Service, and Dr. Ibtihaj Rajoulh and staff. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2020 at Bethel AME Church, 535 Cathay Street, Saginaw, MI 48601. Pastor Dennis Lafoon will officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3210 S. Washington Ave., Saginaw, MI 48601. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m. *******At Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, we value the safety and health of our customers, staff and the general public. Therefore, we will adhere to EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 2020-42 issued by our Governor Gretchen Whitmer, regarding assemblages in the wake of the unprecedented health challenge our state and nation is facing. The Executive Order is as follows: Acting under the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, I order the following: 1. Beginning on April 10, 2020 at 4:00 pm, and continuing through May 1, 2020 at 5:00 pm, all assemblages of more than 10 people in a single indoor shared space and all events of more than 10 people are prohibited in this state. A single indoor shared space includes but is not limited to a room, hall, cafeteria, auditorium, theater, or gallery. The prohibition on assemblages set forth in this section does not apply to: The prohibition set forth in this section does not abridge protections guaranteed by the state or federal constitution under these emergency circumstances. We do understand that this may pose a challenge to you and your family, but our dedicated staff is here to help guide you towards making the best decisions in memorializing your loved one.*

Mr. Henry Brown

August 31, 1922 - April 12, 2020