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 Founded by the
Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr. Family
of Elmsford, New York.
As a Family Man of Community and Service,
Mr. Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr.'s Legacy
 is honored and continues in the spirit and tradition of contributing to the Gift of the sharing of Family.
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June 1, 1934 - March 8, 2019

Lorenzo P.  Brown, Jr. was born on June 1, 1934 in La Follette, Tennessee. Born and raised there, in a region, as part of the Country's beautiful Appalachian Mountains.

His Family originated from Virginia, but by the time he was born, some Family Members migrated to the states of Tennessee and Kentucky. All of his early life, before relocating to New York, as an adult, Lorenzo Brown was always a Tennessee Resident.
As a young Student Mr. Brown attended the La Follette Colored High School, where he was taught by his Aunt Virtaree Brown, as highly distinguished Faculty Member of the  La Follette Community in Campbell County.
After graduating from High School, Lorenzo Brown attended Knoxville College, and became a Science Major. While in college, he also pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and served his fraternity both while in school and after graduating, becoming a lifetime member.
He graduated from Knoxville College, (Tennessee) in May of 1956, and soon after was drafted into the United States Army in 1957. Around this time, he married his College Sweetheart Mary Cynthia Brown, who was a Music Major; and soon after, they moved to New York, as he was deployed on Army bases, overseas and abroad, Mr. Brown has traveled to many Countries and Cities; from Paris to Lebanon and en route to various European coastlines, while serving in the U.S. Army. He served and received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army in February 1963.
In the 60's, and as a young Couple; Lorenzo and his bride Mary, saw limitless job and educational opportunities for advancement and believed that they would fair better by living in the vibrant New York City. As a lot of his wife's Family had already migrated to New York, Lorenzo and his Wife chose the Bronx Borough, to set up residency.They had two children Bernadette and Preston.  In 1969, they relocated to Westchester County, thus buy a house in Elmsford, NY.   By this time, Lorenzo Brown was a Faculty Member, Teaching Science at DeWitt Clinton High School... Bronx, New York. In 1967, Mr. Brown received his Masters Degree in Science at Fordham University in the Bronx. He was in the same graduating class with the honorable Robert F. Kennedy, the late Senator & Attorney General of the United States.
Also, on Sundays, Lorenzo Brown & his Family would attend Convent Ave Baptist Church, NYC Service, where he also taught Sunday School, before the service.
Lorenzo was a man with many talents and passions.  He taught Science at the
DeWitt Clinton High School, in Bronx, New York, for 28 years and missed very few days during his entire tenure as a Teacher and Mentor to so many Students.  In the late 1980's he received an award from Mayor Dinkins for his Teaching excellence at DeWitt Clinton.
Mr. Brown subsequently received several educational Teaching awards from the NYC Borough Officials, throughout; including an Education Award presented to him by
Bronx Borough President of the Bronx, Fernando Ferrer, for mentoring more Students in the Bronx area.

Though by now, Lorenzo and his Family, became permanent Residents, living in Westchester County, New York, Lorenzo always went back to his Hometown of La Follette, Tennessee, for rest, relaxtion & catching up with many Relatives, enjoying some of the best Country cooking by his Aunt Virtaree, who inspired him to be a Teacher, like her.
After retiring from Teaching, he wrote  2 editions of his book, "A Black Community Emerges and Disappears," documenting the history of all of the Black American Families that lived in this small town, in La Follette, Tennessee, where he was raised as a child, by his Grandmother Louzinka and Aunt Vitaree, a stern School Grade Teacher. It was there that Lorenzo grew into a fine, gifted & educated young man and his since of Community & People.
Lorenzo received wide notoriety and acclaim, in Campbell County, for his self produced book in the Tennessee State Library & Archives & La Follette Town Official Library Archives. Various local Newspapers ran features on Lorenzo's newly acclaimed book, including a ribbon cutting
Mr. Brown was very active in the Elmsford and Greenburgh Communities. As a Board Member namely of the North Elmsford Civic Association, he was innovative in helping along with other Board Members, to build North Elmsford Massaro Park's first Swimming Pool for the Youth. He also supported and was involved in the various Youth and Adult Recreational Programs and Activities that were up for funding. Lorenzo Brown shares a Theodore D. Young Community Center Plaque, honoring among other distinguished Members of the Community, and as working with the Town Hall of Greenburgh, Town Supervisor, Mr. Paul Feiner, also. Over the years, Lorenzo Brown was always a part of helping out at the Theodore D. Young Community Center, whenever he could. He enjoyed helping to make positive things happen for the Youth, the Senior Citizens and the Communities, abroad. And with this work ethic, Lorenzo Brown took up his next solo project, chronicling the history of the North Elmsford, New York Residents.
With the help of many Families, he was able to collect pictures and great stories from the predominantly Black American Neighborhood. As a result, he put together a compilation of photos and comments of the residents of North Elmsford, dating back to the early 1900's and he distributed as many homemade copies to the North North Elmsford Residents that he possibly could make on his own, just for the sheer love of his Community.

Lorenzo loved Classical, Country & Soul Music. He loved to listen to all kinds of music in his car, especially Orchestral music such as Tchaikovsky, and also Leontyne Price, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Luciano Pavarotti, James Taylor, Mozart, Linda Ronstadt, Roberta Flack, G.F. Handel's 'Messiah', Glen Campbell, Johnny Mathis, John Lee Hooker & many others... He would also wake up every morning and watch his favorite classic TV sitcoms, such as, 'Perry Mason', 'Leave It to Beaver', 'The Andy Griffith Show', and later in the day, 'Family Feud' (Steve Harvey) , Sci-Fi's, 'Star Trek's Original TV & Movie Series' , 'Sanford and Son' & always 'TCM' (Turner's Classic Movies). He loved watching all of the Basketball Games, Westerns & Biblical Films. He also liked Animated Movies and Action Films. The funny thing, when it came to movies, Lorenzo, rarely would watch a Film, twice, though there were exceptions, like The Ten Commandments (Charlton Heston). He loved that Film. Most of the time, he would say that 'once' was sufficient. Discipline and focus even in some recreational activities, it seemed. Lorenzo came home one day to proudly lay claim that he was the first of many to see the acclaimed Superhero Film the 'Black Panther' in the Movie Theater. It was rare that he would venture out to a Movie Theater without the Family, but he said that he couldn't wait to see it, and left us in the dust; so this was truly a first. He gave it 5 stars, by the way. Little did we know at the time, that it would be the last movie that he would ever see in the Theater. But no matter what, we were still blessed as a Family. He was determined to enjoy his life to the fullest, a rule that he lived by all of his life. He never complained and resolved that 'life' must take its course. For Friends and Colleagues that knew and worked with Lorenzo, they would always say that he had such a calm manner about him, always the intellectual and respectful innovator, when needed. He already knew that he was blessed, just by having been a part of the positive processes taking place around him and the People in it. He just wanted to contribute in his own quiet way, whenever he could. And his Family and Friends would surely agree that he did just that. He was so happy after seeing the 'Black Panther' Film, he saw it as a good excuse to celebrate & have a big bowl of ice cream. But his Family knows, that any excuse for Lorenzo to have ice cream, is just that, any excuse. He really and truly loved ice cream, especially strawberry & chocolate, though to look at him, you'd never know it. He worked hard on staying fit throughout his whole life. Very athletic, exercising every day. When Lorenzo's kids were younger, he would make homemade vanilla ice cream for the Family, in the Summertime, sitting and turning the ice cream wheel, just outside in the yard, always with a steady hand and always patient, making ice cream the old fashioned way, no matter how long it would take. It was  some of the best ice cream on the planet, though it never lasted long. Like Dad, like Daughter. Bernadette surely was her Dad's Daughter, especially when it came to ice cream... and Son Preston, the youngest, was not too far behind. Having been blessed with being instilled with good Family values, from his Aunt Virtaree, Grandmother Louzinka & his Uncle Bill; making natural ice cream was also at the top of the learning list. Now back in Elmsford, NY, by this time, having been a Resident for over 50 years, Friends and Neighbors could always see Mr. Brown going for his weekly or morning walks all around the Neighborhood. However, Mr. Brown's main recreation passion though; was 'Bowling', especially with his minor league Bowling Team in Westchester made him quite joyful. He was an avid Bowler and was inducted into the American Bowling Congress in 1995.  Over the years, he always loved photography and took many pictures in his lifetime travels, worldwide. He also volunteered for the Greenburgh Community Center (now honorably The Theodore Community Center), United Way, mentoring Students at Purchase UniversityHe received the PAC 33 Leading Coach Award for his work with the Basketball team in 1977, of which his Son, also a Cub Scout & in later years, Preston Brown, becoming a longtime Aquatics Instructor & in Mgmt. at the Greenburgh Center.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 62 years, Classical Vocal Artist Mary Cynthia Brown, originally of Henderson, North Carolina; A Knoxville College Music Major, a longtime Professional Classic Vocal Artist, once a member of the Amato Opera Company of City Island, NY, also a retired Church Organist and Choir Director for The First Baptist Church of  Elmsford, NY and a longtime member of Convent Ave Baptist Church, NYC Choir... who sang many times at Westchester's Veteran's Day opening Ceremonies...

Lorenzo P. Brown Jr.'s   two Adult Children... Bernadette and Preston are so blessed to have grown up with this wonderful, loving, calm, very elegant & earthy Man, with a shining, and yet an unassuming distinguished manner that he carried  as a Father, & as a human being. When some visting at the Brown Family Home, as they would first meet Mr. Brown, they would sometimes say, with an across-the-board like humor, "Why do I get the feeling that I should be saluting or standing attention in your Father's presence?" As his Family, we all got a kick out of that. Most of all, Dad. We're guessing that it was the 'Teacher' in him. Always holding a class, even at home, but always wanting each to pass his class with flying colors, only to succeed in this thing we call 'Life'.

As his Children, his Daughter
Bernadette... remembering her Dad always patiently waiting in the car, correcting his School test papers, while waiting after school, for Daughter Bernadette to finish her Music Lessons at the Westchester Conservatory of Music for several  years & later Mom and Dad always enjoyed going to her Recording Studio Sessions, only years later to hear her music in the "Wedding Bros. (Marconi Bros.) A FilmRise Production streaming worldwide, with Bernadette writing both Dad's & Brother Preston's favorite song of her music written. The celebrated song is called "Special Light", featuring Liza Minnelli's Pianist Singer Johnny Rodgers at the ending credits in the Film,
Bernadette wrote 5 of the songs in the Film. New versions of "Special Light" will be released in honor of the Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr. Scholarship Proceeds Dedication in 2024 on behalf of his Daughter Singer Songwriter Entertainer Producer Bernadette Brown & featuring Special Guest Artists on the Oceanlight Records Label...

Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr., a true role model to his loving Son, in the Brown Family, we call Preston our 'Special Light'. Preston Wayne Brown was like a beaming soul to so many of his Friends & Extended Family, but none the more radiating and no one more than to his loving Dad, Sister & Mom. God knows all. From Dad Lorenzo Coaching his young Son Preston and several of the Neighborhood Young Men in Basketball Tournaments, to Preston's well known Civic & Mentoring accolades, embarking this direction on his own determination & grit, especially at the TDYCC (Greenburgh Community Center), where he mentored so many young inspiring Children and Adult souls as an Aquatic Director. Attributing to his Dad Lorenzo, helping and guiding Son Preston... both were life long Men of Community Service...
& DJ Preston's Boardwalk Party Sandcastles Productions Events in Coney Island and Atlantic City through the years...The whole Family enjoyed
Preston's DJ'ing & celebrated along with everyone else... with his Dad Lorenzo always cheering Son... Preston, spreading his love & joy of music, exciting the crowd, as they were all enjoying their many dances of 'life...' Dad Lorenzo's support remains endless, even now. Always grateful that Dad would often say on any given moment...
"You be Cool now..."
and "Peace"
That was his daily motto to live by. Even still...
he knew that God was and is always in charge. Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr. was a Man of God, and no one's earthly narrative could ever overshadow that. Like a natural waterfall,
Lorenzo would just let it all flow...
And just like Dad, like Daughter.
Bernadette.
She learned this, among many of
life's lessons from her Dad...

Lorenzo P. Brown Jr., as a Dad, was a special gift from God for both Bernadette and Preston. Our best Friend. And Lorenzo was also a loving Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin, Friend & Mentor to some of our many Relatives in the Family.
As Relatives, we always shared the blessings of having each other in our lives...

For the treasured Profession of Teaching,
this was not just a job for
Lorenzo,
but it was who he was...
Teaching in both a School Class Setting
and in Life!
Lorenzo P. Bown, Jr. not only wanted the best for his own Children, but the best for his many Students, as he taught at DeWitt Clinton High School, throughout the years. To this day, many of his for Students now Adults and Productive Citizens in their own right...they still remember Dad as a great Friend & one of their favorite Teachers, with him having a part role in helping to shape their educational paths, with both love of learning & enduring knowledge. Sharing his God given talents & tools for advancement,
Dad
Lorenzo Brown's natural ease & smile, his warmth and just plain ol'  Gentleman kindness, went a long way with his Peers, Friends & not least of all, his Family. And yet his quiet strength was unmatched and admired by many. He always showed the utmost respect to All & just loved People! And that's what the Elmsford NY Community loved about
Mr. Brown's true dedication to humanity and to the Elmsford NY Neighborhood, as a whole. 
Lorenzo Brown's Children were both raised in a nourishing & flourishing home Family environment. With his beautiful wife Mary C. Brown by his side... And yet as Parents, they encouraged their Children to be themselves & soar! Knowing that no matter how far in life we travel..., God & the root of the Family will always be with them. Lorenzo's Fatherly love, fairness, the educational tools & teaching guidance, and discipline came natural to our very cool Dad...As his Children, we could have not have been more blessed... We love you, Dad...
Bernadette Brown...Adult Contemporary Recording Artist Songwriter Entertainer of  Oceanlight Records, The Songs and Music of Bernadette Publishing & Film Soundtracks Streaming worldwide,
And the Celebrated & Beloved Son,
Preston Wayne Brown (1966-2022),
a Hampton University Graduate, Theodore D. Young Community Aquatics Mgmt. Lifeguard Captain,
Assistant Coach Staff Member of Iona Prep..,

We Honor Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr.
&
his lifetime of work in the throughout many  Communities.

...THE FAMILY AND GIVING NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2024...

In 2025
The Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr. Family
...celebrating with Family & Friends...

A Very Special

89th Birthday Celebration in 2025
...Mary Cynthia Brown...

the Wife of the honorable Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr., 
& the Mother of Celebrated Son, Preston Wayne Brown
On this blessed Occasion
The Family & Friends Remembering Mary's Son
Preston Wayne Brown
for whom both Mother & Son shared the same Birthday.
...Thank You all for your prayers & wishes...
-----------------------------------------
...Coming in 2025...
Complete Lorenzo P. Jr. Brown Family Documentary
with Original Score
...The Lorenzo Preston Brown, Jr. Scholarship...
...The Preston Wayne Brown Scholarship...
On Behalf of The Lorenzo P. Brown, Jr. Family

PRESTON WAYNE BROWN
July 28, 1966 - May 27, 2022
-The Theodore D. Young Community Center (TDYCC)-
Town of Greenburgh, NY
-CSEA Inc. (the Civil Service Employees Association, Inc.)
Local 860-
Town of Greenburgh, NY
-Hampton University Alumni & Friends-
Hampton, Virgina
-Iona Prep-
New Rochelle, NY
...& All of Preston's wonderful Lifetime Friends...
A Lifetime of Love, Family & Friends from all over...
who truly loved the "DJ Preston of Sandcastles Productions"

...Each Growing Family always begins at the root...
The Lorenzo P. Brown Jr. Family
Elmsford, New York
Lorenzo Mary Bernadette Preston

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