Marion L. Brown, Jr.
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Marion L. Brown, Jr., 96, of Petal, passed away Friday, November 5, 2021 at Forrest General Hospital. A family graveside service will be held Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Mr. Brown was a member of Petal United Methodist Church. He served in World War II in the United States Navy where he was stationed in the Pacific and fought in the Battle of Okinawa. He was a Chemical Engineer and retired from Mississippi Chemical Corporation as the Director of Research and Development. He was very successful in the fertilizer industry and to this day, still holds several patents to do with manufacturing fertilizer. He was also a fine art photographer and was awarded the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters award in photography in 1997. His photographs are in major collections throughout the world in museums and corporations. His work has been exhibited across the United States and in Italy, Germany, Finland, and Russia.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion L. Brown, Sr. and Helen W. Brown; his wife of 72 years, Dorothy T. Brown; one son-in-law, Steve Watkins; two brothers, Ellsworth Nelson and Roy Nelson; and two sisters, Ella Marie Howell and Nell Fletcher.
He is survived by four children, Paul Brown of Madison, Marion L. Brown, III (Becky) of Lebanon, TN, Janet Watkins of Brandon, and Jeff Brown (Mandy) of Petal; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.