Jean Melinda Brown

Funeral for Jean Melinda Meaders Brown will be held Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Hickory Methodist Church with Pastors John Cash, Gerald Chaney and Charles Reed officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM prior to the funeral service. Burial to follow at Brown Pine Forest cemetery in Chunky, Mississippi. Pallbearers will be Chris Meaders, Lee Martin, Bill Johnson, David Mock, David Brown, Butch Meaders, Axel Battle, Rick Hasselle. Honorary Pallbearers are Hollis Carroll, Bob Bickham, Johnny Caudill, Mark Craven, Ray Mock, Rodney Meaders and Jeff Carroll. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with arrangements.

Jean Melinda Meaders Brown departed this world peacefully right beside her best friend and husband Jerry on July 7, 2024, at Wellstar West Georgia hospice in Lagrange, Georgia. Proverbs 31:10-31 describes a godly woman who is a wife and a mother and many admirable qualities: trustworthy, generous, industrious, compassionate, wise, fearful of the Lord and shun sinfulness. She was all of this and more. She was the second child born to John Henry Meaders and Olive Catherine Dease Meaders at Lewis Hospital in Meridian Mississippi on January 16, 1946.

From an early age, Jean was a completely devoted Christian women and she lived one of her favorite commandments, honor your father and your mother. She was raised in Hickory Mississippi along with her brothers and sisters attending Hickory Methodist Church. This church holds so many treasured memories and connections, her maternal grandfather built the first part of the church in 1922 and then it was finished by her paternal grandfather in 1952. Jean had a near death experience and that strengthen her faith in God on the shores of the Chunky River.

Jean then went on and graduated from Hickory high school and attended East Central Junior College and then she met the love of her life and her best friend Jerry and then they were married on June 26, 1965, at Hickory United Methodist Church. Jean started working at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi, and they started building their life together. Over the next two years, they hand-built their home, brick by brick and then soon they welcomed their first-born child Richie. She then started working as a nurse at Pine Forest hospital. Living an adventurous life, Jerry and Jean owned and piloted a single engine Taylor craft airplane, along with avid waterskiing, camping, hiking, hunting and fishing. Soon after they welcomed their second child Brent. Jean lived for her boys, being a full-time mom that meant lots of baseball, football and basketball games etc.... She and Jerry traveled from the west coast in California to the east coast of Boston, north to Chicago and south to south Florida and a lot of areas in between.

Jean wore many hats and some of those included being a Sunday school teacher, a choir leader, full time caretakers of Hickory Methodist Church in which she was a lifetime member and at the time of her death was the oldest living member of the church. She was the Owner of Brown's Bodyshop, Amway representative and the cofounder of Righteous Oaks recovery center in Chunky, Mississippi.

Jean had a servant's heart and was a full-time caregiver of Richie after he became paralyzed in 1999 and then again, she was in that role with her mother.

Jean lived in some amazing towns Hickory, Mississippi, Chunky, Mississippi, Atlanta, Georgia, and Lagrange, Georgia and in every town, she made numerous friends and long connections. She touched so many lives in such an uplifting and amazing way. After the loss of Richie in December 2009 she, Jerry and Brent began a daily morning devotion and prayer. Whether it was in person or a thousand miles away, this was always their special time. God was front and center of her daily living. She would always begin her prayer with "I treasure you; I have faith in you, and I believe in you, and I honor you". During Covid she set up a prayer room in her home and spent thousands of hours studying in the word and praying to her Lord and savior. The Bible verse from Matthew 22:37 speaks perfectly of how she lived her daily life. "Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God with all their heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. "She and Jerry spent wonderful quality time with Brent in LaGrange, Georgia and got to experience many amazing adventures over the years. As her health declined, LaGrange became her home. Her final day on this earth, the Lord placed on Brent 's heart 11:11 the meaning of this is referred to Angel number 11:11 spiritual awakening, self-awareness and signifies a soul is ready for a new beginning. Jean left this earth for her eternal father on July 7 at 11:11 PM.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Meaders and Olive Catherine Meaders, her son John Richard "Richie" Brown, her siblings Michael Meaders, Babette Meaders, Greg Meaders, Butch Meaders and Anna Meaders Battle.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years Jerry Brown; son, Dr. Brent Brown; sister, Emily (Mark) Craven and numerous family members. In her words heard by so many "I love you with all of my heart. May God bless you!"

In lieu of flowers and gifts Jean's family request that donations be made to Hickory Methodist Church or Righteous Oaks Recovery Center Chunky Mississippi.

The family would like to express their thanks to Jean's entire healthcare team, expanding from California to Georgia Jean's personal ministry was unconditional love, words of encouragement, and the Lord of our savior in Jesus Christ.