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Freddie Brown, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022 at Edgewood Health & Rehabilitation.
He was born August 9, 1949 in Hammond, Louisiana, the son of James and Zola Mae (Andrews) Brown, and lived at several locations in Louisiana before moving to Michigan with his family as an 18-year-old.
A mason by trade, Freddie worked at Kysor-Meadows in White Pigeon and Grumman-Olson in Sturgis. Later, he engaged in agricultural work.
He was a giving person with a good spirit. He enjoyed hunting, playing cards, and watching Westerns; he loved dancing and music, especially that of Keith Sweat. An amazing cook, he specialized in homemade gravy, oxtail, and potato salad. Family members recall gathering for cookouts.
Remaining to cherish Freddie’s memory are his sons, Freddie Lee Brown Jr., Willie Brown Sr., Pastor Matthew Brown, and Freddie Brown Martin; daughters, Terrell Brown and Dielista (John) Wright; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, James Brown Jr. and Joseph Brown; sisters, Beverly Headspeth, Mary Williams, Evangelist Eola Griffin, and Emma Nelson.
Freddie was preceded in death by his wife and childhood sweetheart, Carolyn (Barze) Brown, and by his daughter, Cynthia Brown Street.
The family wishes to express special thanks to Beverly Headspeth for spending a lot of time with Freddie when others weren’t able to see him; to Tyrone Washington for his assistance in the memorial process; to Pastor Matthew, First Lady Marcia, and Dewon Brown, Terrell, Willie, and Freddie Brown for a beautiful job of blessing their father to rest; and to Valerie and Stephanie Cole for the flower arrangement.
Visitation will be held Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 17852 S. River Rd., Three Rivers. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 at the church with Pastor Terry Cropper officiating. Freddie will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery.
