Obituary for Willie Lee Brown
Willie Lee Brown was born December 18, 1950 in Rochester, New York, the youngest of eleven children born to the late Nellie and Benton Brown. He received his education in the Rochester
City Schools, attending both Jefferson and Madison High Schools, where he played in the basketball tournaments. He was well known for his basketball abilities.
An avid ball player, Willie could be found any day of the week at No. 19 School or on Flint Street playing ball with his friends. Let Willie tell it, he was "one of the best to ever come through this town."
All of the Brown children were known to be sharp dressers and drive extra clean cars, both inside and out. It was said of them: "Nobody can clean and ride like a Brown," and Willie was no exception. Willie was a jovial person who always kept a smile on his face. He also loved to laugh and joke, encouraging laughter
in others.
Willie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he received an Honorable Discharge. He went on to work for both Delco and Eastman Kodak Company. His health began to deteriorate in 2013, and he was admitted into Monroe Community Hospital. After a long and courageous fight with
illness, Willie passed away on April 8, 2021.
He is predeceased by his parents and six siblings: Ernest Smith Jr., Otha Jewel Brown, Pearl Davis, Mildred Brown, James Brown, and Edward Brown. Willie is survived by two sons, Dwayne Brown of Atlanta, GA and Donnell Brown of Rochester, NY; one daughter, Chantae Burnette of Brantley, AL; seven
grandchildren: Addison Brown, Ian Brown, Lawson Brown, Kilah Brown, Donnell Brown Jr., Jamari Brown, and Janiyah Robertson; four siblings: Bennie Brown, Betty Slater, Robert
Brown (Sonny), and Barbara Jones, all of Rochester, NY. He also leaves a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends who
will miss him dearly.
City Schools, attending both Jefferson and Madison High Schools, where he played in the basketball tournaments. He was well known for his basketball abilities.
An avid ball player, Willie could be found any day of the week at No. 19 School or on Flint Street playing ball with his friends. Let Willie tell it, he was "one of the best to ever come through this town."
All of the Brown children were known to be sharp dressers and drive extra clean cars, both inside and out. It was said of them: "Nobody can clean and ride like a Brown," and Willie was no exception. Willie was a jovial person who always kept a smile on his face. He also loved to laugh and joke, encouraging laughter
in others.
Willie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he received an Honorable Discharge. He went on to work for both Delco and Eastman Kodak Company. His health began to deteriorate in 2013, and he was admitted into Monroe Community Hospital. After a long and courageous fight with
illness, Willie passed away on April 8, 2021.
He is predeceased by his parents and six siblings: Ernest Smith Jr., Otha Jewel Brown, Pearl Davis, Mildred Brown, James Brown, and Edward Brown. Willie is survived by two sons, Dwayne Brown of Atlanta, GA and Donnell Brown of Rochester, NY; one daughter, Chantae Burnette of Brantley, AL; seven
grandchildren: Addison Brown, Ian Brown, Lawson Brown, Kilah Brown, Donnell Brown Jr., Jamari Brown, and Janiyah Robertson; four siblings: Bennie Brown, Betty Slater, Robert
Brown (Sonny), and Barbara Jones, all of Rochester, NY. He also leaves a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends who
will miss him dearly.