Rev. C. Conrad Browne Sr.

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Rev. C. Conrad Browne Sr., 96 of Namquid Drive, a retired Baptist Minister and Missionary, died Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at the Brentwood Nursing Home in Warwick. He was the beloved husband of Catherine E. Wilcox and of the late Ora Helen (Smith) Browne to whom he was married 50 years until her death in November of 1995.

Born in Lafayette, IN, the son of the late Rev. C. Clayton Browne and the late Ruth (Losey) Browne, the Rev. Browne’s educational background was extensive. He attended Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI and received a Master of Divinity Degree from the University of Chicago Divinity School, Chicago, IL. He continued his post-graduate studies at the Interdenominational Divinity School in Atlanta, GA and, after receiving a fellowship grant from each institution, he furthered his studies at Harvard Divinity School and at the Episcopal Theological School both of Cambridge, MA. After being drafted in 1939, he declared himself a “Conscientious Objector” and entered into military alternative service with several organizations including the YMCA and the National Forest Service (1943-45).

For 54 years Con served the American Baptist Churches USA in many capacities including service with the Koinonia Farm Christian Community of Americus, GA from 1949-1963 and as President and Director of the Highlander Research and Education Center of Knoxville, TN and New Market, TN from 1963-1972. He served as an American Baptist Churches of the USA (ABCUSA) Missionary in Guimbal, Panay Island, Republic of the Philippines from 1972-1977 and as a Minister of Christian Education, American Baptist Churches of the South (ABCOTS) in Atlanta, GA from 1978-1980. As an ABCUSA minister he served as the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Iowa City, IA from 1980-1984; of the First Baptist Church in Girard, KS from 1985-1989; of the First Baptist Church in White Plains, NY from 1989-1991 and of the Oak Hill Baptist Church in Oak Hill, WV from 1991-1992. Before his retirement in 1994, he served as an Interim/Supply Pastor for various churches throughout West Virginia.

He was the loving father of Lora R. Browne of Dania Beach, FL, Carol Christie Browne (d. 2011), Charles C. Browne of Sinks Grove, WV, John G. Browne of Sinks Grove, WV and Chrys C. Browne of Raliegh, NC. He was a devoted “Grandpa” and “Da” to his ten grandchildren: Zachary, Thomas, Holly, Matthew, Cherie, John, Abigail, Rachael, Joseph and Allegra; and to his six great-grandchildren: Megan, Amelia, Emmeline, Camlin, Nzali and Adalyn. He was predeceased by his dear sisters Martha E. White and Barbara R. Bernard and was a much loved “Uncle Con” to all of his many nieces and nephews from the Browne, Smith and Wilcox families.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 29 at 7:00 pm at Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. Relatives and friends are invited. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. A private interment service will be held in the Browne Family Cemetery, Sinks Grove, WV.

In lieu of flowers, to honor Conrad's lifelong pursuit of peace and justice for all people, the family requests donations be made to Koinonia Farm, 1324 GA Hwy 49 South, Americus, GA 31719 (www.koinoniafarm.org) or to The Open Door Community, 910 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30306-4212 (www.opendoorcommunity.org). Remembrances may be shared at carpenterjenks.com