George Nesbitt Brown

Deacon George Nesbitt Brown Age 83 Years of 
#313 Baillou Hill Road, South gave his final rendition and 
passed peacefully from labor to reward at his residence on 
Monday, November 10, 1997.

Uncle George as he lovingly called by his family and 
friends was born in the beautiful serene settlement of 
Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas on Monday, December 22, 1913 
to the late John Thomas and Jane Elizabeth Brown. 
He was the youngest of fourteen children born to that 
dedicated Christian family. He is also preceded in death 
by all his siblings.

Uncle George enjoyed a special relationship with his 
brothers, former Senior Commissioner John, Victor M.B.E., 
Gladstone, Washington, Kirk, Raymond and Rev. Dr. Harcourt W. Brown, 
his sisters Alma, Celia, Rhona and Elizabeth pampered him. 
His eldest niece Mrs. Corene Thompson was born just 
months before him and was his childhood playmate.

He was educated at the All Age Public School in Hatchet 
Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas where he excelled in his studies. 
He was made a monitor under the Rev. Dr. P. A. Gibson.

As a young man, Uncle George came to Nassau and taught 
for a short time at a School operated by his brother, the 
late Rev. Dr. H. W. Brown. He later joined the Royal Bahamas 
Police Force, where he served for many years and was promoted 
to the rank of Corporal, before being seconded to the 
Department of Immigration. As a Police Officer, 
his conducting of road traffic was magnificent. Because of this, 
he traveled abroad for the Ministry of tourism and conducted 
traffic in the Bahamian Police Uniform in the U.S.A. On 
Tuesday, November 28, 1978 he received the Tourism Achievement Award.

While working at the Department of Immigration, he achieved 
the rank of Senior Immigration Officer, retiring in the early eighties. 
After his retirement from Immigration, he was employed for a 
time at Radio Bahamas as Chief Security Officer.

Uncle George met and married the late Ethel Knowles. 
This union was blessed with one son George McNair Brown. 
He late met and married Helen Melvina Pinder on Saturday, 
July 31, 1954. This union was also blessed with one son, 
Whittington Selkirk Washington Brown. From birth there 
was a special bond between Uncle George and Whittington. 
Whittington was showered with love and protection and 
during Uncle George's waning years, Whittington was able 
to more than reciprocate this same love and protection 
toward his father. Uncle George and Aunt Mellie shared 
a special relationship; they always address each other as 
"Darling" or "Dear". They worshipped, prayed, traveled 
and sang together. He would be her constant companion 
as she went from place to place conducting insurance business.

Every nephew, niece, cousin and friend who came into contact 
with George Nesbitt Brown, knew that he did not love you 
too much to whip you. He would gladly give of his time and 
resources and constantly remind you that "you are somebody". 
To him this was not a cliché, if anyone was ever in doubt about 
this Uncle George knew how to remind you. He always kept 
his belt buckled at his side, ready at a moment's notice to 
reacquaint you with your identity. This propensity for 
whipping however waned as years went on completely 
disappearing by the time Pastor and sister Stewart's son's 
T. C. and Michael came along. He adopted them as his 
grandchildren and forbade anyone, parents included to 
use capital punishment on them. Whittington's little girl 
Selina, provided inspiration for him, encouraging him to 
do things and applauding him when he did. Children always 
knew that Uncle George loved them.

Uncle George, realizing that the things of earth are only 
for a season, gave his life to the Lord during a revival 
meeting in the fifties. Uncle George possessed a magnificent 
bass voice. He loved to sing, he loved good singing, He would 
also let you know which category of song your voice fell into 
and also whether or not you should continue singing. Bethel's 
Senior Choir will not be the same, without Uncle George. 
He served faithfully and many times he was the only male 
present and accounted for. He always said he was serving 
his Master and looking forward to signing in that heavenly choir.

A life member of the historic Bethel Baptist Church, he served 
as president of the senior choir and was founder and president 
of choir #3. He served in the Missionary Circle, Prayer Band, 
Men's Fellowship, First fruits Prayer Band, Evangelism Team, 
Trustee and Deacons Boards. For this, he received numerous 
plaques from the church.

He also loved poetry and could quote verbatim poems as a boy. 
His favorite being;

Look To This Day:
Look to this day, for it is life. The very life of life, 
in its brief course lies all the vanities and realities of your existence.
This bliss of growth,
The glory of action, the splendor of beauty,
For yesterday is already a dream,
Tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived, 
makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day such is the salutation of the dawn.

The Radiance of this "Turquoise of A Gem" will always glow in the hearts of his:
Wife: of forty-three years Helen Melvina;
Two Sons: George McNair and Whittington S. W. Brown;
Four Grand Children: Tamico, Capucine, Garvin and Selina Brown;
Two Daughters-in-law: Ida and Sonjia Brown;
Grand Daughter-in-law: Fabianne Brown;
Mother-in-law: Rev. Naomi Pinder;
Four Adopted Children: Pastor Timothy Sr. and Mrs. Sharon Stewart, 
Mr. Ishmael Lightbourne and Mrs. Shirley Wiliford;
Four Adopted Grand Children: Timothy Jr., Michael and Gardner 
Stewart and Tamika Wiliford;
Six Sisters-in-law: Dorell, Miriam and Fredericka Brown, Gloria Johnson, 
Elise Hutcheson and Dena Armbrister;
Twelve Nephews: Rev. Albert E. Jr. and Cardinal Hutcheson, John, 
Victor, Christopher, Owen, William, Les and Patrick Brown, Shelby and 
Mervin Adderley and Anthony Dean;
Twenty Nieces: Corene Thompson, Almatha Hutcheson, Rhona Bethel, 
Erma Hepburn, Rosie Schmutz, Lorraine Albright, Lorna Mathis, Vernamae Adderley, 
Dr. Portia Jordan, Othella Missick, Darnell Miller, Gloria Glinton, Mizpah Rich, 
Elizabeth Butler, Pat Johnson, Yvonne Bowe, Dr. Gayle Yallop, Jennie Brown, 
Nathalie and Ruby Hutcheson;
Numerous Grand Nephews Including: Archdeacon William, 
Canon Gilbert and Dr. Philip Thompson, Jerry, Customs Officer Albert, 
Assistant Superintendent of Police Kirkland, Edward, Whitfield, Victor, 
Maurice and Police Sergeant 503 James I, Albert,  Lindbergh, Trevor and 
Leslie Hutcheson, Barry, Glen, Garth and Julian Hepburn, Stafford Missick, 
Marcellus and Aurellus Jordan, Jeffrey, Timothy, Paul, Clayton and 
Michael Fernander, Robert Pinder Jr., Aaron Glinton, Javon, Javaise, 
Savion and Gabriel Brown;
Numerous Grand Nieces Including: Maria Ferguson, Andrea Pinder, 
Nellie Strachan, Alma Turnquest, Alma Adams, Ernestine Major, Janet, 
Robin, Jermaine, Janice, Theresa, Orrine, Shambula, T'shura and Uriza Hutcheson, 
Melony and Crystal Hepburn, Vonya Albury, Sonia Adderley, Ethne Bowe, 
Ester Smith, Ida Butler, Uvalda Jordan, Alicia and Olinica Missick, Maria, 
Kia and O'Bria Brown, Hortenica Glinton, Candida, Makelle Pinder and 
Kendria Strachan;
Eight Nephews-in-law: Calvert, Larry, Michael and Don Johnson, 
Otis Bodie, Nathan and Efferson Armbrister and Ellwood Pinder;
Eight Nieces-in-law: Naomi Hanna, Darnell Hutcheson, Sandra and 
Jeannie Johnson, Debbie Adderley, Val Ingraham, Renne Collymore and 
Patrice Armbrister; 
Other loving family and friends including: Rev. Cladwell Farrington Sr., 
Rev. Leroy Carey, Rev. Wellington and Donna, Calsey, Virginia, Ervin, 
Thomas and Fr. Johnson, Cisslyn Dames, Eldica Wilson, Elijah Mackey, 
Keith Mason, the Coakleys of Lewis Street, the Browns of Bimini, 
the Hatchet Bay Eleuthera Community and the Bethel Baptist Church family.