Dr. Benjamin Jerry "BJ" Brown

Dr. B. J. Brown passed away Sunday, April 19, 2015 at home surrounded by family members. He was born November 23, 1924 in DeFuniak Springs and is preceded in death by his father, Dr. Benjamin Jerry Brown and his mother Leita Wesley Brown and his brother Wesley Brown and sister Dorothy Annis Brown. Dr. Brown graduated from Walton High School in 1941 and then attended Auburn where he played in the band; he then attended Emory University in Atlanta graduating in 1949 with a DDS degree. He served as a Medical Corpsman stationed in Anniston, Alabama before entering Emory. Dr. Brown married Josephine Perryman June 1, 1945 in Atlanta and moved to DeFuniak Springs in 1947 where he practiced dentistry until 1993 when he retired. He served in many offices in the Florida Dental Association and Okaloosa Walton Dental Association and served as trustee of Florida Dental Association for seven years. He was acknowledged by the FDA as an outstanding dentist and leader in the direction of organized dentistry in the State of Florida. He was a Kiwanian for sixty-five years with perfect attendance for sixty years, serving as president for four years. He was a founding member of First Federal Savings and Loan Bank. One of his most outstanding accomplishments were the numerous patients that came to him for his excellent dentistry for forty plus years from all over the Southeast USA. He never turned a person in pain down – be it 3:00 A.M. Sunday or Christmas. His patients were his priority. His family always knew they were first and loved deeply, but his patients were almost family too. He was a gentleman and loved his church where he taught Sunday School every Sunday for years. He prepared his lessons well and knew his Bible. He had a farm where he loved to watch things grow and a lake he loved to fish in, but never on Sunday. He enjoyed sharing the fruit and fresh fish with neighbors.

He is survived by his wife of seventy years, Jo Perryman Brown; daughters Susan Brown Burgess (Ron) and Marsha Brown Anderson (Jim); one brother, Dr. R.A. Brown and two nieces Cathy Waugaman and Cindy B. Barraco (Mike). He has two grandchildren, Clay Brown Adkinson and wife Lauren and Allison J. Anderson. One great grandchild, Bella as well as a cousin Zane Vaughan (Mary) also survive.

The family would like to thank Emerald Coast Hospice and Synergy Home Care for their commitment and service during the past year. Honorary pallbearers will be fellow Kiwanians and members of Busy Men Bible Class. In leiu of flowers memorials may be made in Dr. B. J. Brown’s memory to Emerald Coast Hospice, First United Methodist Church or charity of choice.

A time of visitation will be Wednesday, April 22, 2015 from 9:30 until 11:00 in First United Methodist Church, 88 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs with the funeral beginning at 11:00 A.M. with Reverend Bobby Ellisor officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.