Burl Jackson Brown
(1912-1997)
Remembering my Dad:
He was a humble simple man who helped and loved his family and friends and most of all loved the Lord.
His mom and dad died before he was 10, and he was raised by his aunts and uncles. He only went through the 8th grade.
He worked at Hadley Peoples cotton mill and I remember him going out the door of our house at 7AM wearing his overalls carrying his little green metal lunch box.
Even though he worked there 40 years, He always said “I would rather wear out that rust out.”
He also said "Hard work never hurt anybody", and taught me about having a good work ethic.
As a boy, just before we went to church, daddy would apply my hair tonic. It would run down my face and burn my eyes because it was 90% alcohol. People thought I was emotional coming to church -- but it was really just tears and hair tonic running down my face.
I remember him wearing his black fishing boots while I helped him wash the car. He would squirt the hose in bucket to make soap bubbles.
Daddy came to all my baseball games. Days off he would play catch with me in the front yard.
When we attended baseball games he made sure we had seats in the bleachers directly behind home plate.
Sometimes he would take me fishing with him. He asked me not to talk so much, so I wouldn't disturb the fish. (Can you imagine?) . . . So, I threw rocks in the river.
We would polish our matching white buck shoes and even dressed alike in our blue and white seersucker suits for Easter Sunday service.
Daddy was the “clock keeper” at our high school basketball games for 32 years. When he got older, sometimes he forgot to turn on the game clock, and Mom would yell from the stands, "Burl ,turn the clock on."
Also, to the embarrassment of my mom and our family, at half-time when things would get too quiet, daddy would grab the mike and start yodeling.
Dad and mom had a 2-acre garden for many years. They probably gave away more they ate. They were always first to help a friend or neighbor that was sick or in need.
When I bought my new 1961Chevy Impala, dad asked me to wait to take delivery until January 2nd so I would pay less tax. Meantime, I would go to the showroom floor and polish it!
When January 2nd finally arrived, it was a cold day. But as we proudly cruised down Main Street, I convinced daddy to roll down the windows because I thought the car looked better with the windows down.
After coming home from my first day in barber school, I convinced my daddy to let me shave him. As blood trickled down his face, he soon realized this was not a good idea. But he never complained or said a word.
Daddy loved everyone and always had time for them. I remember him talking for 20 minutes to a complete stranger who was walking along the highway in front of our house.
I morned his death, but celebrate his life
And I am proud to be his son.