Cecil Albert (C.A.) Brown

Mr. Cecil Albert (C.A.) Brown, 79, of Albany, GA, died Friday March 2, 2012 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Brown was born in High Point, NC, and was the only son of the late William Allen and Mae Douglas Brown of Statesville, NC. He grew up on the family farm where he enjoyed hunting of all types and graduated from Central High School in 1952 in Statesville, NC. His motto from his high school yearbook was, "If It Won't Run, Push It!" He married his high school sweetheart Lona Dean McLelland in 1953. He was a firefighter for the Statesville, NC fire department and a driver for McLean Truck Lines, Winston Salem, NC. In 1963, the family moved to Albany, Georgia.

Mr. Brown served in the United States Air Force and was stationed in Montgomery, AL and eighteen months in Germany. As a member of the military police, he excelled in marksmanship. He was a driver for Trailways Bus Lines from 1962 to 1972 based out of Albany, GA and was a member of the Trailways Retirement Club. In earlier years, Mr. Brown had obtained a NASCAR license and raced at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC. He continued to follow NASCAR racing and attended races at the Atlanta Motor Speedway and also followed the action on television. He was an excellent mechanic and worked on anything with an engine. Before his illness, he was in the process of restoring a Volkswagen Beetle at his home shop.

He and his son loved to hunt birds and enjoyed freshwater fishing and especially loved to fish for catfish and was an RV enthusiast. He spent many hours at his home shop tinkering with his RV. He and his wife enjoyed RV trips to Saddle Ridge Campground, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Sparta, NC and closer to home at Whispering Pines RV Park in Georgetown, GA. He was a member of Dougherty Lodge # 591 F & A.M.

He deeply loved his two granddaughters and was always the first grandparent to the hospital when each was born. He spent time with them every week and had a practice of rewarding them for good grades.

In the late 1960's he founded C.A. Brown Builders and later incorporated as C.A. Brown Construction, Co., Inc., a commercial general contractor. Mr. Brown started out by clearing land, dirt hauling and performing foundation work. Later he progressed to building custom and spec homes throughout Albany, GA and Leesburg, GA area after completing drafting courses at what is now known as Albany Technical College. He later changed to a design build firm concentrating on commercial buildings. Over the years, he was involved in the design and construction of many retail, commercial, warehouse, church and office properties. He was involved in rental of homes and commercial facilities.

He was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church. His favorite type of music was Old Time Gospel. He especially enjoyed the friendship and support of his fellow members of his Men's Sunday School Class.

Survivors include his wife, Lona McLelland Brown, Albany, GA., a son and his wife, Jeffery Cecil Brown and Millie Lowe Brown, Leesburg, GA., two sisters, Susan Latchford, Winston-Salem, NC and Shirley Holder and her husband Bill, St Petersburg, FL, two granddaughters, Caroline Anne Brown and Katie Douglas Brown of Athens, GA.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. Rev. Chip Gresham will officiate. Interment will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery with Masonic rites. The family will assemble at the home of the deceased. The family will receive friends Monday from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Mathews Funeral Home. Those desiring may make memorials to Calvary Baptist Church, 1211 13TH. Ave., Albany, GA 31701.