Judge Gerald Parker Brown

Judge Gerald Parker Brown, 94, of Paragould, passed away Tuesday, March 10 at his residence. Judge Brown was born August 19, 1920, in Clay County, Arkansas to the late Jessie and Hazel Parker Brown. He graduated from Greenway High School, Attended Draughons Business College; following that he worked as a bookkeeper for the Swift and Company, Lake Charles, LA, until World War II started. He served in the United States Marine Corps from January 1942 to January 1946 serving in the South Pacific Theater; received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with high honors from the University of Arkansas in 1949; receive a Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Arkansas in 1951; He was associate editor of the law review from 1949to 1951; awarded Phi Beta Kappa certificate in 1949 from the University of Arkansas; President of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity; Vice President of Phi Alpha Theta History Fraternity in 1948; President of Law School Student Body in 1950; practicing attorney in Paragould, AR from 1951-1975 practicing in the law firm of Kirsch, Cathey, Brown, later Cathey, Brown, Goodwin & Hamilton; He was President of the Paragould Kiwanis Club in 1957; Commissioner of Youth Baseball Program in Paragould 1956-60 during which period the Labor Park Little League Program was constructed; President of Greene County Bar Association in 1960; President of Greene-Clay County Bar Association in 1961; President of the Northeast Arkansas Bar Association in 1963; member of the House of Delegates, Arkansas Bar Association 1972-76. Served as Chancery Judge, Second Judicial Circuit 1975-76; Circuit Court Judge, Second Judicial District, 1977-87. He was chosen by Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association as Outstanding Trial Judge in 1978; in 1995 he was honored as Founder of Adult Probation Program for Second Judicial District; 1997 honored by Arkansas Judicial Council for Outstanding Community Service; 1998 awarded Lifetime membership in Greene County-Paragould Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Community Service; 1998 chosen as Citizen of the Year by the Paragould Rotary Club for Outstanding Community Service; served on the Board of Trustees of Arkansas Methodist Medical Center from 1952-1999, five of which he served as Chairman. In 2010 he was the Grand Marshal for the Paragould Christmas Parade and in the same year wrote a book “The Clod Hoppin Judge”. He was a member of the Young Men’s Bridge Club. Judge Brown was very proud that he initiated the practice of public prayer, filling food orders at the Witt House Food Pantry, had a leading role in restoring the old (1888) Greene County Courthouse from 1993-2010. He was preceded in death by one sister, Madeline Helton and one brother, Donald Brown. He is survived by his wife, Lottie Brown of the home; sisters, Reba Henson and Mildred Brown of Piggott, AR; sons, Ronald Brown of Purcellville, Virginia, Cliff Brown of Jacksonville, Oregon; daughter, Bunny Lee of Paragould. Grandchildren, Lisy McKinnon, Emily Lee and Anna Caroline Lee; great-grandchildren, Audrey and Edward McKinnon. Visitation will be Friday from 5:30-7:30 P.M. at Heath Funeral Home in Paragould. Funeral services will be Saturday at 10:30 A.M. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. John Fleming officiating. A private family burial will follow the service. The family request that memorials be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Witt House, P.O. Box 667, Paragould, AR 72450. Sign the online register at www.heathfuneralhome.com