- Date Of Birth: April 9, 1907
- Date Of Death: February 22, 2008
- State: New Jersey
Azariah Clinard Brown (“AC”), died February 22, 2008 at Moorestown Estates, Moorestown, NJ, after a brief illness Mr. Brown, age 100, was born on April 9, 1907. in Garfield, Florida to Absalom and Emily Gibson Brown. He was one of eight children and the last surviving sibling.
Mr. Brown worked as an executive chef for PepsiCo World Headquarters, in Purchase, NY, and for the Overseas Press Club, in New York City, And as a “trouble-shooting” chef for Canteen Foods. For many years he owned Brown’s Catering Service and was widely sought after for parties and weddings in Westchester County, NY. Mr. Brown was active in civic and community affairs. He was a member of the Ossining Negro Civic Organization, in Ossining, NY, and the NAACP. From 1943 until 1990, he was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church, in Ossining, where he served in various capacities including Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee and President of the Day Care Advisory Board.
In 1990, Mr. Brown is survived by his wife of 75 years, Verdene, his daughters, Benita Thompson (William) and Myrtle Speller, of Mt. Laurel, NJ, and Ceola Loan (Peter), of Hyattsville, MD; a special “daughter”, Norma Johnson, of Courtland Manor, NY; a sister-in-law, Disie Brown, of Melbourne, FL; eight grandchildren: Deborah Hill, Kimberly Thompson, Valeria Galloway. (Stanley) Elliot Howard, Joyce Johnson-Howard, Dena Neverdon, (Garry) and Willie Parker-Loan (Lisa); special “grandchildren”, Kent and steven Johnson; ten great grandchildren; a goddaughter, Karyn Williams; numerous cousins, nephews, nieces and foster children in Florida, Maryland, Virginia and New York. He was predeceased by his daughter, grace Howard (Jimmy), of Miami, FL.
