Paul Brown, Sr.

On Saturday, January 30, 2021, Paul Brown went home to be with his Lord after 71 years of sharing his life, love, and faithful service. He was born on March 10, 1949 to the union of the late James Henry William Brown, Sr. and Essie Rene Brown of Itta Bena, Mississippi. He was the sixth child of six children from this union, there being six other siblings from a previous marriage of his father to the late Miss Fannie Beatrice Riley and one older brother prior.

Paul attended Horace Mann Middle School where he played the clarinet. You can still find that clarinet under the bed at his sister Essie’s home. Yes, Paul was also musically inclined. As the youngest child, Paul was definitely “the baby.” So much so he literally attended school with his nieces. The “baby” eventually grew to be a man who started his own family. While still living in Wichita, Paul met Marsha Redd and to them was born, Kisha Redd. Paul later met Dorthy Cratic and together they had Mario Brown. Still in Wichita, Paul married Betty Dyas and her two sons, Harry and Bobby Dyas. To their union 5 more children were born: Christopher, Martile, and Paul Henry Dyas, and Charlotte and Tolly Brown. Paul and Betty moved the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico and were married until her death. Paul later married Mamie Holmes and her children, Jasmin, Bridget, and Nadia Holmes. Paul and Mamie eventually moved the family from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Carson, California and lived there until he retired from Yellow Freight Trucking Company. Paul and Mamie moved the family to DeSoto, Texas. Paul and Mamie remained happily married and committed to God and each other until he was called Home.

Paul confessed Christ at a young age. He belonged to First Southern Baptist Church in California and served as a Deacon, sang in the men’s choir, outreach ministry, and transportation where he would pick up members who needed rides back and forth from Sunday service. Where there was a need he would selflessly step in and serve the Pastor as well as the people of God. Paul was a strong Christian and servant for the Lord who went to church regularly starting his Sunday morning with Sunday school, and insisted that “anyone staying in his home had to go with him to church.” There was no discussion on this point. After the family relocated to Texas, Paul joined Greater Community First Baptist Church family where he taught Sunday school, sang in the men’s choir and was also the head of bereavement. Paul was a faithful servant to God, and he did anything that he could to help relieve the burden on his Pastor.

Paul was a family man who loved his wife, Mamie, his children, and grandchildren. He taught his children the important lessons of life and to always love and serve the Lord. He was also a spirited man with a strong work ethic and a great love of life. After graduating high school, Paul worked as a gas station attendant and later drove a water truck for the City of Wichita, Kansas. Paul was an entrepreneur, he along with a few of his close friends opened their own business, The Chocolate City Car Wash and Detail shop. Paul had a long career driving eighteen-wheeler trucks for Yellow Freight Trucking Company across the United States until his retirement.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Essie Brown; brothers, Neg Brown, Joe Brown, Aaron Brown, Henry Brown Jr., Samuel Brown, and Abraham Brown; sisters, Beatrice Collins, Hester Jackson, Dorothy Winfield, and Lucille Bolden.

Paul leaves to cherish his memories: his loving wife, Mamie Brown; five sons, Bobby Dyas (Martha) of San Antonio, Texas, Harry Dyas of Dallas, Texas, Christopher Dyas of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Paul Henry Dyas of El Centro, California, and Mario Brown; six daughters, Jasmin Holmes of Houston, Texas, Kisha Redd-Hines of Wichita, Kansas, Bridget Holmes of Las Vegas, Nevada, Martile Dyas of San Antonio, Texas, Nadia Holmes of Dallas, Texas, Tolly Brown of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Charlotte Brown of Long Beach, California; thirty five grandchildren with one due to arrive next month; twenty five great grandchildren; brother, Pastor Moses Brown; sister, Essie Henry, and a host of other relatives and friends that loved him dearly.

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