Thomas Walter "Tom" Brown, 81, of Lake City, passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, October 6, 2022, with his family by his side after an extended illness. He was born in Lake City, Florida on September 28, 1941 to the late Clarence Ewell Brown, Sr. and Rachel Hackney Brown.   A 1959 graduate of Columbia High School, Tom completed undergraduate studies at Emory University, and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with honors and as an Executive Editor of the Florida Law Review. Lake City was his home his entire life.

Tom's legal career began at Brannon & Brown, P.A., the law firm co-founded by his father, where he eventually became partner. In the 1970's, Tom acted as Lake City's City Attorney, and then as the City's special counsel for labor law matters.  Tom served the Suwannee River Water Management District as its General Counsel for over thirty years.  From 1982 through 1987, Tom chaired successive committees studying, and then drafting, the County Charter for Columbia County (the smallest county to receive a Charter at the time).  In 2002, he chaired the Columbia County Charter Review Commission.

In addition to serving on various Florida Bar Boards and Committees, Tom spent countless hours volunteering for local legal organizations, notably serving as Director and President of Three Rivers Legal Services.  Tom was a founding member of the Florida Bar's Committee on the Legal Needs of Children, and a member of the Third Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program Advisory Board. In 2001, Tom received the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award.

An active member of the First Presbyterian Church for many years, Tom was honored as Elder Emeritus for faithfully serving the Church. As a member of the Boy Scouts of America, Tom received the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Outstanding Eagle Scout awards.  He also served as Past Council President and as a member of the Executive Committee.

Tom devoted many hours in service and leadership to the United Way local chapter, which he co-founded in Columbia County.  He was honorary lifetime director of the Children's Home Society. He served as an officer of, or on the boards of, many organizations to which he belonged, including the Lake City Elk's Lodge and the Rotary Club.  In addition to being President of the Rotary Club, Tom was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He served on the Advisory Board for the Suwannee Valley Community Foundation, and as a long time director for Florida Gateway College Foundation.

Favoring the restaurants at the beach (to the beach), Tom took the greatest pleasure in the beauty of the North Carolina mountains each and every time he was able to visit them. He enjoyed time spent in fellowship with family and friends.   Spending New Year's Eve with great friends Robie and Gail Robinson was one of his all time favorite traditions.  Tom is going to be especially missed by his beloved dog, Isabelle (Izzy), who brought tremendous joy to his life each and every day.

Tom is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Walter Brown, Jr., his brother, Clarence Ewell Brown, Jr., his parents, and his parents- in-law, Arthur C. and Doris Granger Butler.

Tom is survived by his wife of 32 years, Ann Butler Brown; daughters, Rev. Suzanne Brown Zampella (Neil) of Missouri, Angela Marie King of Fleming Island, and Alison King Eubank (Shane); grandchildren, Riley Ann Eubank and Darren James Eubank; Special nephew, Clarence Ewell Brown, III (Caroline); nieces, Jennifer Brown Rosado and Rebecca Brown Cade, sister-in-law Carole B. Brown, brother-in-law, Arthur C. Butler, Jr. (Linda) and their children Sarah Butler O'Rourke (Mike) and Rachel Butler Ponte (Thomas), all of Lake City, Florida. His special caregivers also survive, Linda, Lillie, Hope, Florine, Jeryl, and Charlie.

A Funeral Service for Mr. Brown will be conducted on Friday, October 14, 2022, at 12 Noon at the First Presbyterian Church, Lake City, Florida, with Rev. Kenneth Goodrich officiating. The interment will follow in Memorial Cemetery, Lake City. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation between the hours of 5 and 7 PM Thursday evening, October 13, 2022, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to the United Way of Suwannee Valley, 871 SW State Road 47, Lake City, Florida 32055; the Montgomery Center, montgomerycenter.net; or North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America, 521 Edgewood Avenue S., Jacksonville, Florida  32205.

United Way of Suwannee Valley
871 SW State Road 47, Lake City FL 32055

The Montgomery Center
Web: http://montgomerycenter.net

North Florida Council, Boy Scouts of America
521 Edgewood Avenue S., Jacksonville FL 32205