Winfred “Clint” Brown, Sr., 91, passed away Tuesday morning, June 3, 2014, at the Athens Limestone Hospital.
Clint was born August 3, 1922, in Barhamsville, Virginia. While in high school, he worked the night shift at the local paper mill. He left his home in West Point, Virginia to begin his career on September 3, 1945.
Clint’s first job was in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, working for A.C. Samford, Inc., where, unbeknown to any of the workers and their employers, the first atomic bomb would be built. He then worked for A.C. Samford, Inc as a construction cost estimator for many years in Albany, Georgia.
Clint later worked for Walter Dean Construction, Inc. out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was during this time that he met and married his bride of 48 years, Marjorie Jones Phillips, while building a housing project for the City of Athens. He moved to Athens where he co-founded Ranger and Tenco Construction Companies, serving as their president. During this time his companies bid and constructed schools, hotels and small plants in the Huntsville/Athens area, including Athens High School, the Double Cola plant, the Sands Motor Motel and the public library in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the general contractor for Corp of Engineers projects, including army barracks and officer housing on Redstone Arsenal and in the state of Kentucky as well as major expansion construction for Middle Tennessee State University in Tennessee. He also served as a certified arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Following his retirement, Clint served the City of Athens in several ways over the years, including over eighteen years on the Athens Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustments and, along with his wife, Marge, as grand marshals of the Athens/Limestone Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Parade. He very much enjoyed being a greeter/usher for his church, First United Methodist of Athens until his medical condition prevented him from continuing.
Clint was an avid boater throughout his life. He and Marge were active in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, serving in various capacities for over 20 years. Clint and Marge were instrumental in forming and presiding over the annual Joe Wheeler Flotilla Christmas Parade, at the Lodge in Rogersville.
He is survived by his children, Clint Brown, Jr. and Sala Brown Strickland; two sisters, Vranian and Ruth Piper of West Point, Virginia; five grandchildren, Kellie Brown, Clint Brown, III, Carly Brown Wilkins (Chris); Britney Brown Cashell (Joey); Jesse Strickland; and two great-grandchildren, Adrienne Laxson and Chloe Neal.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Joseph Winifred and Hattie Bradenham Brown; his wife, Marge Brown; his sons, Carl Brown and Cliff Brown; and his granddaughter, Sala Lindsey Strickland.
Visitation will be at 12 noon Friday, June 6th at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with the funeral following at 2 pm with Rev. Jimmy Bassham officiating. Internment will immediately follow at the Roselawn Cemetery in Athens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent Meals on Wheels-Athens Senior Center.
