Obituary of Pastor Ollie Brown, Jr,

Ollie Brown Jr., was born in Pinewood, South Carolina, the second of nine children of the late Ollie Brown Sr. And Mary Gaymon. On May 3, 2023, he departed this life peacefully to be with Lord. He was raised by his grandparents who were sharecroppers, in the small town of Panola, South Carolina. After the passing of his grandparents in his early teenage years, his life became very rough. He often says, “Although life was hard for me and things were unbearable, I wouldn’t change my experiences for anything in the world.” In 1960, Ollie Brown moved to Brooklyn, New York, where through the divine favor of God, he was hired as an apprentice in the electrical industry. He eventually worked from an Apprentice to a skilled Journeyman Electrician of Local Union #3. His future was getting brighter! He became a Sub-Foreman, Foreman, General Foreman and Superintendent. He was considered to be one of New York City’s top Electricians. After retirement, he opened a Consulting Company where his expertise in his field was utilized. God truly had a plan for his life, and that plan began to manifest itself in 1963 when he met Maebelle Harrell. They married on November 28, 1964. From their union of over 58 years were born three sons James, Jeffery, and Eric. Maebelle was the love of his life. They enjoyed watching baseball together and especially loved their dinner dates. Ollie loved quartet music. He was a gifted guitarist. His gift allowed him to travel throughout the country, where he would minister to various congregations with the Stars of Wonder, Gospel 7 and the Temple-Aires. He passed on his playing ability to all three of his sons. Ollie loved all sports, but his favorite was baseball. He coached several teams in his local area for over ten years. Whether on his team or not, the players loved to ride in the back of Coach Brown’s yellow station wagon. Mt. Pleasant Episcopal Church of Panola, South Carolina is where Pastor Brown’s spiritual life began. Once in New York, he joined Saints Temple Church of God In Christ in Brooklyn. Where he was under the leadership of Bishop Calvin W. Williams and Mother Bertha Williams. Ollie was called to the ministry in 1968. In 1984 Bishop F.D. Washington ordained Elder Ollie Brown. Elder Ollie Brown served faithfully under Bishop Calvin Williams until 1998. Later that year, he was asked by the late Bishop Ithiel Clemmons to serve as Pastor elect of the Beth-el Church of God In Christ in West Hempstead. He was officially installed by Bishop James Gaylord as Pastor of Beth-el in 2000. As Pastor, he had a vision for the church and was committed to seeing it come to fruition. He expanded the sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, bathrooms, and church offices, and he added a conference room, chapel, handicap lift, and mother’s room. With a solid commitment to Beth-el and a love for the local community, he opened the Lakeview Multipurpose Center. He also partnered with the WERC program, where he was able to give young men who were recently released from incarceration an opportunity to work and get reacquainted to civilian life. Pastor Brown served as State Sunday School Superintendent for the First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction for over 20 years and a chaplain for over five years. Ollie Brown Jr. Leaves to cherish his precious memory: his wife Maebelle, sons, James (Lisa), Jeffery (Nina), and Eric (Ericka); grandchildren Tiffani Erika Brown-Berkeley, Christian Brown, Queen Brown, Josiah Brown, Nikole Brown, Nikolas Brown, Eric Brown Jr., Robert Brown, Equashia Green and Equana Green; great-grandchildren Brooke Valentin, Rue Valentin, Alexander Joel Brown, Israel Noel Brown, Truli Maelle Berkley, Trinity Gregory, Zena Maddoxx, Karter Brown and Kameron Brown; sister, Geneva Pemberton (Moses); sisters in love, Elsie Wiggins, Mary Sessoms and Viola Parker; God-daughter Joya Millet; aunt, Lilly Mae Prickett, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, grand nieces and nephews, relatives friends and the Beth-El church family