BEDFORD – James Lee Brown, 43, passed away Sunday, September 7, 2025, from natural causes.
Born November 8, 1981, in Bedford, he was the son of Gregory Scott Brown and Teresa Lynn (Jones) McGeary Fletcher.
James was a 2000 graduate of Mitchell High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Safety Management at Indiana State University at Terre Haute. While at ISU, James was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and was chosen Greek Man of the Year. James was a Health and Safety Manager with Pepper Construction at the time of his death.
James was a Member in Good Standing of Mitchell Masonic Lodge No. 228 F.&A.M. and a former member of lodges in Arkansas and Minnesota. He was a 32nd degree member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Valley, Indianapolis. James was a Murat Shriner of Indianapolis and part of La-Or-Ma Shrine Club. He was a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post No. 250 in Mitchell. James was of the Christian faith.
James was deeply committed to, in his words, his “greatest achievement and light of his life,” his daughter Emma Grace O’Dell Brown. He enjoyed sharing with her his pleasure in traveling, all genres of music – especially blues and jazz, history, antiques and antiquing, all forms of comedy and humor, and playing pool. They shared an avid passion for all animals.
Surviving are his daughter, Emma Grace O’Dell Brown; mother, Teresa Lynn McGeary Fletcher of Bloomington; father, Gregory Scott (Beth) Brown of Mitchell; lifelong mentor and role model, Robert F. Henderson of Orleans; brother, Jeremy Lewis (Morgan) Brown of Bloomington; sister, Katelyn Diane (Eric) Brown of Bedford; uncles, John A. Jones of Williams and Norvin A. Jones III of Shoals; the cousin foremost in his heart, Stephanie Brown (Steve) Sipes of Bedford; many other cousins; and his companion, Nicole Marie Allen of Mitchell.
His brother, Justin Scott Brown; grandparents, John L. Brown, Ruth E. Emmert, Norvin A. Jones, Jr., and Betty L. Rodman; uncle, Mike L. Brown; and stepfather, Larry Kent Fletcher, preceded him in death.
Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 14, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Brother Greg Isom officiating. Burial will be at Cresthaven Memory Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday, September 13, and from 1:00 p.m. until the service on Sunday at the funeral home. A memorial service will be conducted by Mitchell Masonic Lodge No. 228 F.&A.M. at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
In memory of James, with his passion to serve his community, his family believes he would have been honored to acknowledge his brother Justin’s request and put it forth again: “If you think of me and would like to do something in honor of my memory do this: volunteer at a school, church or library; write a letter to someone and tell them how they have a positive effect on your life; if you smoke-quit; if you drink and drive-stop; turn off the electronics and take a kid out for ice cream and talk to them about their hopes and dreams; forgive someone who doesn’t deserve it; stop at all the lemonade stands run by kids and brag about their product; and make someone smile today if it is in your power to do so.”
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