Mr. Melvin Lamar Brown, 83, of 111 Hart Terrace, Hartwell, GA, died Thursday, March 19, 2009 at his home.

Born December 25, 1925 in Franklin County, he was the son of the late Vinson Brown and Laura Jordan Brown. He was retired from Monroe Auto Equipment Company after 28 years of service where he worked in the shipping department.Mr. Brown was a WWII U.S. Army Veteran serving in the European and Pacific Theaters, and was a member of the Old Canon Baptist Church.

He is survived by: Wife, Irene McCollum Turpin Brown of the home, sons, James Lamar Brown, Waleska, Ga., Curtis Edwin Brown, Hartwell, Ga., Jerry R. Brown, Canon, Ga., and Keith Brown, Jacksonville, FL, step-sons, Leroy Turpin, Statham, Ga., and Billy Turpin, Hartwell, Ga., daughters, Pam Rowland, Dewy Rose, Ga., Melba Rowland, Royston, Ga., Kathy McCurley, Hartwell, Ga., step-daughter, Callie Gentry, Hartwell, Ga., brothers, Carl Brown, Eastanollee, Ga., and Bennie Brown, Toccoa, Ga., sister, Mildred Suprak, Toccoa, Ga. Thirteen grandchildren, sixteen step-grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ida Ruth Brawner Brown and by brothers, Edwin, Ray, Joe and Willard Brown and sisters, Opal Brawner, Zadie Bridges and Ossie Stephens

Funeral services for Mr. Melvin Brown will be held on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. from the Hartwell Chapel of Strickland Funeral Home. Rev. Truitte Brawner and Rev. Carl McGaha will officiate. Burial will be in Nancy Hart Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends on Saturday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will be at the home of Kathy McCurley. 1960 Clay Brown Road, Hartwell, Ga. Memorials may be made to Vista Care Hospice, 150 Ben Burton Road, Bogart, Ga. 30622