Rockdale Citizen

T.D. "Dick" Brown

Thomas Dixon Brown, age 99, of Conyers, passed away on June 25, 2012 from cancer. T.D. “Dick” Brown was born on November 11, 1912 to Thomas David Brown and Julia Terrell Brown. One of eight children, he grew up in Franklin County near the town of Martin, Georgia. While a vocational student and FFA member at Carnesville High School, Mr. Brown was elected Georgia’s third State FFA President. After graduation, he entered the University of Georgia where in 1935 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education. He also holds an earned Georgia Planter Degree and an honorary American Farmer Degree. He was first a teacher of Vocational Agriculture in Cleveland, Georgia and then in Cairo, Georgia. While teaching in Cairo, he established a Department of Vocational Agriculture, was responsible for sponsoring the first FFA Chapter at Cairo High School, and met and married Martha Louise Burroughs to whom he was married 48 years. He was the founding director of the Vocational Agriculture Department, Jackson Lake Vocational Training School, Covington, Newton County, Georgia and served as director of the camp through 1960. He was the first Assistant State Executive Secretary of the Future Farmers of America in 1945 and then served as the FFA Executive Secretary until 1960. When he retired in 1974, he was Assistant State Supervisor, Northwest Georgia, having served in agricultural and vocational education for 39 years. He was a charter member of the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame, which recognizes outstanding educators who have devoted their professional careers to providing the youth and adults of Georgia with instruction in agriculture. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Lithonia, serving in the church in many capacities for over 60 years. He was awarded the honor of Deacon Emeritus in 2009. In 1987, two years after the death of his first wife, he married Margaret Tilley Tress, and she survives as his wife of 25 years. Also surviving are his children and their spouses, Dr. Thomas D. and Betty (Roberts) Brown of Gainesville, Gayle and Dan Ragsdale of Oxford, David and Dr. Elizabeth (Everett) Brown of Townsend; stepdaughter, Linda Tress McCullough of Lithonia; grandchildren, Cliff Brown and wife, Julianne, of Demorest, Craig Brown of Gainesville, Dr. Beverly Brown of Chicago, IL, Frank Ragsdale of Cartersville, Elizabeth Cantrell of Covington, Matthew Bryant and wife, Mandy of Lawrenceville; great grandchildren: Stephens, Anna Catherine, Julia and Miles Brown of Demorest; Connor and Courtland Cantrell of Covington; Zach and Rachel Bryant of Lawrenceville; sisters, Louise Richter of Cairo and Martha Richardson of Arlington, VA; numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and first wife, Martha, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jones, Max and Bill Brown; sisters, Julia Hopper and Mary X. Middleton. He was known by many; loved by all. Known as T.D., Dick, Mr. Brown, the Director, the Teacher, Husband, Father, Granddaddy, Papa, Brother and Daddy. All of these describe T.D. “Dick” Brown. A funeral service will be held 11 o’clock, Friday, June 29 at the First Baptist Church of Lithonia with Rev. Howard Greer and Dr. Jim Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Hillandale Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church of Lithonia, P.O. Box 378, Lithonia, GA 30058. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 on Thursday at Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia, 770-482-4411, henryfuneral.com.