We give praise and honor to God for the gift of life of Joseph “Russell” Brown. Born September 15, 1952 to the late Julius “Bootsie” and Dorothy Porcher Brown, he transitioned from this life on April 21, 2023. Russell was educated in the public schools of Sumter County, and graduated from Ebenezer High School. After graduation, Russell attended Job Corps, where he completed his trade in Small Appliance and Electronic Repair. Russell retired from Campbell Soup where he was employed for over 20 years. After retirement, he performed professional house painting. His favorite pastime included playing baseball, shooting pool, watching wrestling, westerns and football. In addition to both parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Franklin Brown; a brother, Julius “Rudy” Brown and two uncles, Nathan and Cornell Brown. He leaves to cherish his wonderful memories of a life well lived, two sons, Troy (Tasha) Franklin-Brown, Tory (Aminah) Brown; one daughter, Amber (Delven) Porter, all of Ohio; eight grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; five siblings, Delores Brown of Columbia, Barbara Brown of Atlanta, GA, Norman Brown of Sumter, Linda Brown of Columbia, and Tonya Finnie (Dwayne, Sr.) of Virginia Beach, VA; mother-in-law, Vivian B. Franklin; two brothers-in-law, Bennie J. Franklin, Samuel Q. (Cynthia) Franklin; one sister-in-law, Vivian “Candi” Bankston-Franklin, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. In accordance with the COVID 19 guidelines, the family is requesting that face masks and social distancing be observed by relatives and friends during visitation at the home, 3410 Hill Road, Sumter. Funeral services will be held 3:00 p. m., Saturday, April 29, 2023 in the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel of Williams Funeral Home, Inc., 821 North Main Street, Sumter, with Rev. Dr. J. Elbert Williams, Officiating, Eulogist. The procession will leave the home at 2:30 p. m. Burial will follow in the High Hills Baptist Church Yard Cemetery, 6751 Meeting House Road, Dalzell.
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