Eugene Alfred Theophilus Brown

Eugene A. Brown November 24, 1935 – June 11, 2024 Father, Husband, Pop-Pop and “Uncle Eugene” to many. He will continue to live in our hearts, our memories, and will be with us always. Eugene Alfred Theophilus Brown was born in the village of Ottos on the beautiful Caribbean island of St. John’s Antigua W.I. on November 24, 1935 to the late Iris and Earl Brown. Eugene peacefully passed away at the age of 88 surrounded by his loving family and devoted caregivers on the late afternoon of June 11th 2024. As a young man, Eugene received his early education in Antigua while working before and after school at his father’s well-established bakery. Eugene loved life in Antigua, however, wanted better opportunities for himself and his future family. One day he saw an advertisement for a ship sailing to London, England. This presented an opportunity for him to apply for British citizenship. At the tender age of 21, Eugene left Antigua to go abroad and established roots in London, England. In England Eugene was employed by Ford Motor Company. During his early life in London he sent for his soulmate, Jeanette, from Antigua in 1957. They were married in England, a union that lasted 65 years until her passing in November 2023. This union was blessed with five children Colin, Roger, the twins Sharon and Tracey; who all were born in London, and the “Babe” of the bunch Lorraine who was the only sibling born in the United States. Eugene, his wife, and family lived in England for 10 years before he made the decision to relocate his young family to America. Eugene arrived first in America in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he worked diligently to establish a himself and was able to have his wife and children come to the United States in 1967. The family resided in Philadelphia for 35 years. During his life in Philadelphia he worked at ACME Markets Inc., The Philadelphia Bulletin, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 2004, Eugene and his wife Jeanette, retired, built their dream home and relocated to Townsend, Delaware, where they lived for the next 20 years. Eugene wanted a big home when he retired. He and his wife wanted to be able to enjoy extended family and friends when they returned home for visits. It was in Philadelphia and Delaware where his grandchildren Aaron, Nicholas, Aleya, and Lilianna would benefit from having devoted grandparents, spending summers and holidays at Mica Street. Eugene never missed an opportunity to shower his children, grandchildren and great granddaughters with love, support, and life lessons. As a man deeply rooted in his faith, Eugene was a former member of St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for many years. He later was baptized, accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and received the Right Hand of Fellowship becoming a member of Salem Baptist Church in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. He was then led to become a devoted member and faithful usher for many years at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the guidance of Pastor Dr. Leslie Callahan Eugene loved his West Indian heritage and EVERYTHING about the sport of CRICKET. He would travel to South Africa, Antigua, the Caribbean, and England to see and attend live cricket matches and spend countless hours watching the cricket matches on television. Eugene was President of the International Cricket Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he sponsored many teams and players from various West Indian Cricket Teams. He was an avid cricketer in his youth and young adulthood. Also, he was well known to some of the most prestigious cricketers in his homeland of Antigua and abroad. Although cricket was his first love, Eugene was also a semi-pro soccer player in England. Eugene inherited his talent and passion for homemade “baked bread” from his father, Earle Brown, this was an essential part of every major family holiday meal and on his countless visits to California to see his children every Christmas season. Eugene also enjoyed and loved taking care of his home with numerous renovations with the assistance of his personal friend and handyman Luke (Skywalker) Berkitt. Eugene loved working on his house and had unique obsession maintaining his immaculate lawn and his huge backyard. He also adored gardening, planting fresh vegetables, and traveling all over the country. Eugene had many lifelong friends local and abroad, in London and Antigua and showed up for them whenever and wherever he was needed. We will miss our dad; his strong personality, his love of family, and most of all his love of life! Preceding him in death were his parents Iris an Earl Brown, his loving wife of 65 years Jeanette L. Brown; in addition to his siblings, Claxton, Hencliffe, Vincent, Keith, Ethlyn, Genevieve “Sister”, Maude “Slyvia”, Emelda, Mary “Rita”; and his 1st grandson, Aaron Eugene Brown. Eugene is survived by his loving his loving siblings, James Brown, Joshua “Mikey” Brown, and Merle Shaw; his devoted children, Colin Brown (Vanessa), Roger Brown (Valerie), Sharon A. Starnes (Melvin), Tracey E. Pirri (Joseph) and Lorraine D. Brown; grandchildren, Nicholas T. Scott (Gianna), Aleya J. Starnes, Lilianna N. Pirri, Genelle Sweat (Daniel), Michele Fisk (Allen); his great-granddaughters, Payton and Brooklyn Sweat, Evelyn Fisk, and the precious Cleodora J. Scott; in addition to a host of relatives, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors, too numerous to individually mention. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Monday, July 1, 2024 at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 275 East Main Street, Middletown, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. Interment for both Eugene A. and Jeanette L. Brown will be held at Old Drawyers Cemetery (New Section) in Middletown, Delaware. Any family members or friends who are unable to attend the service for Eugene may live-stream the service by clicking here. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Eugene’s memory to St. Paul’s Baptist Church, 1000 Wallace Street, Philadelphia, PA. 19123 or online by clicking here.

Eugene Alfred Theophilus Brown

November 24, 1935 - June 11, 2024