Stanley Brown

The Life and Legacy of Stanley Allen Brown Committed - Faithful - Servant of the Most High God In the Beginning God In accordance with the divine will of our great God, Stanley Allen Brown began his life on September 7, 1958 as the middle son of William Brown and Annie Ruth Dimbo Brown in Birmingham, Alabama. From the beginning, Stanley being mild mannered with a quiet temperament was a focused determined child approaching life as a steady achiever and overcomer. At the tender age of 10, Stanley was baptized at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Oxmoor accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. A Life as a Finisher "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12:2 It was during the turbulent days of the Civil Rights Movement ending segregation that Stanley began his formal education in Birmingham City schools. Beginning in his neighborhood school of Powderly Elementary, he then successfully graduated in May 1976 from the newly integrated Jones Valley High School. In pursuit of a higher education, Stanley attended Miles College for two years (76-78). He then transferred to the historic Tuskegee University successfully earning the Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration in July 1981. Seeking to stay current and marketable, he advanced in completing the Business Systems and Computer Program at Herzing Institute. In 1983, he began his professional career with the Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham CIO Field Office a computer programmer. In 1986, he was promoted and remained with the Department of Veterans Affairs as Computer Systems Analyst. A Match Made in Heaven - A Holy Union "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord." Proverbs 18:22 One of the defining moments in Stanley's life was his marriage on June 20, 1987 to the lovely, dynamic, woman of God, his partner for life, Yolanda Renita Gayle. A virtuous and worthy wife (earnest and strong in character) is a crowning joy to her husband (Proverbs 12:4 [AMP]). This was a match made in heaven. For over two decades, they lived their life together sharing life's experiences as partners in his Kingdom of God ministry, an assignment knitted together in love in Christ. From this holy union, God blessed them with two adoring children, Allen Randall and Allencia Gabrielle who through his example were taught of the Lord. Being a steadfast, unmovable, committed father, grandfather, and loving husband, Stanley continued to grow and develop. "Big Daddy" as he called himself as grandfather of Madison Rae and Miles Langston, loved his family and can be truly defined as a "Family Man". Following his marriage, he united with the Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church under the spiritual leadership and guidance of his beloved mentor, Pastor Emeritus Elvester Turner. As an emerging leader in church ministry, his assignments included teacher of the Men's Bible Class; Assistant Superintendent to the Sunday School; Crusader Counselor (92-94), Youth Director (92-96), and Outreach Ministry Director. In the Jefferson County District Association, he worked as a teacher with the Certificate of Progress Program (COPP) and the Congress of Christian Education. In September 1996 in partnership with one of his closest friends, Ernest Brown (JB), God called him to reach out beyond the walls of the church building. God placed it in his heart to be a part of the Solid Rock Foundation Prison Ministry. Stanley passionately and tenaciously carried the Word of God to hundreds of incarcerated and bound prisoners at St. Clair Correctional Facility. In addition, for many, many years, he had ministered at the Jimmie Hale Mission carrying the Word. Because of his faithfulness and his continuous love for the things of God and for the people of God, he was appointed to the Trustee Board of Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church. He was later elevated to Chairman of the Trustee Board and in July 1999, he was ordained as a deacon where he served until his call into the preaching ministry. Ministry Calling "I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:1,2 In October 1999, our heavenly Father called him to preach the Word. He was licensed and subsequently ordained as a minister. His first assignment was Associate Minister at Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church. Because of this calling and his desire to obey God, he devoted his life to the study of the Word of God and to increase in the wisdom of God with knowledge, skill, and understanding. In May 2000, he completed his studies at the Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College earning the Bachelor of Theology and in December 2004 obtained the Master of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. Pastor Brown was pursuing the Doctorate of Divinity at the Andersonville Theological Seminary in Georgia. Not only did he gain from his spiritual father, Rev. Elvester Turner practical experience and support but a loving and caring friend. In addition Reverend Brown also found a friend and a mentor as a young preacher in Pastor Clinton D. Patterson, Second Avenue Beulah Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama. At a time when he needed encouragement and guidance, Pastor Patterson supported him in providing numerous opportunities to preach the gospel messages in another venue. Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 On April 5, 2009, Minister Stanley Brown was called by God to pastor the Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church. As pastor, God gave him the vision of "Reaching Within to Reach Out to the World." Pastor Brown held the strong conviction that he must and would be led by God alone. As a man of God, he understood that leaders think differently from followers. Yet, he understood how followers think, coming up through the "ranks" himself. Through his God-inspired vision, his mission was teaching and studying the Bible. Praise and worship became center stage as the membership steadily grew. He continued to advance the goal for greater unity in the body of Christ. Pastor Brown loved the congregation at The Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church. In The End - To God Be t he Glory Cherishing His Memory A loving and devoted wife, Yolanda Gayle Brown; two children, Allen R. Brown and Allencia G. Brown; two grandchildren, Madison Rae and Miles Langston Brown; devoted parents William and Annie Ruth Brown of Birmingham; one sister, Theresa B. Thomas of Bessemer; two brothers, William R. Brown of Los Angeles, CA and Terry W. Brown of Birmingham; mother-in-law, Emma McDonald of Syracuse, NY; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Willie and Barbara Moore, Lipscomb; a host of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Alabama, New York, Ohio; four uncles, William (Vena) Beamon of Texas, Henry (Minnie) Clayton of Birmingham, Charlie (Esther) Gayle of Davenport, FL, Christopher (Yvonne) Gayle of Toledo, OH; three aunts, Mattie Rice, Lenora (Earl) Barry of Toledo, OH, Annie (Eugene) Wilson of Culver City, CA; nieces, nephews, cousins, the Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church family, other relatives, and friends who will forever remember and cherish his life.