Raymond Brown, age 78, fell asleep in Jesus on May 31, 2022 after a brief illness at HCA Florida Lake City Hospital. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on May 18, 1944 to Raymond Sr and Amelia Brown. Ray was blessed with two siblings: his older sister Ruth Correira and younger brother David Brown who both also have served in Christian Ministry. Ray graduated from Durfee HS in Fall River, MA in 1962 and went to work at the textile factory like his father. At the end of that year, he was encouraged to go to Berkshire Christian College to further his education. His original intent was to pursue education, but God had a different path for him. In his Junior year at BCC, he felt called to Christian ministry as a pastor. Ray asked his girlfriend Donaline if she would be willing to marry him and serve in ministry with him. They were married on August 27, 1966 at the Beals Advent Christian Church in Beals, Maine. After summer camp responsibilities, they headed back to BCC for their Senior year of college. After graduation in May 1967, they moved to Swans Island, Maine for their first pastorate. Ray was bi-vocational, teaching and pastoring the church. Their oldest child Rhonda Leigh was born while serving in the church January 1969. After three years, they moved to Beals, Maine and served in Donaline’s home church. While there, their son Clifton Daniel was born in August 1970. The next church they served in was the Advent Christian Church in Stratford, CT. Their youngest daughter Esther Marie was born in July 1975. Their next pastorate brought them to West Head, Nova Scotia, Canada. One special memory was when Ray would go down to the wharf to pray for the lobsterman before the start of the lobster season each year. Their next church was the Advent Christian Church in Washburn, Maine in a farming community, followed by the Advent Christian Church in Harrington, Maine and the Mechanic Falls Advent Christian Church in Mechanic Falls, Maine. In 1985, they moved to Waterville, Maine to co-pastor a church with Steve and LaVonne Brown at the Waterville Advent Christian Church. After 8 years of ministry, he and Donaline moved to Augusta, GA to pastor at First Advent Christian Church in Augusta, GA where they served for another 8 years. Their final move was to Kite, GA to Minton’s Chapel Advent Christian Church where they served for 15 years up until their retirement in 2015. In addition to his pastoral and music ministry at each church, Ray also served in various capacities in the community such as the Muskee Center in Waterville as well as the President of the Washington AC Campground and Secretary for the Georgia State AC Conference. Ray and Donaline both loved not just their family, but all the congregants, pastors, musicians, and friends they served in ministry with over the years.

Ray was predeceased by his father Raymond Brown Sr, his mother Amelia Brown, his mother-in-law Octavia Alley, father-in-law Clifton Alley, sister Ruthee Correira, his brother-in-law Raul Correira, his brother-in-law Hartley Alley and his step-grandson David Partridge. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Donaline Brown of Dowling Park, FL, his brother David Brown (and his wife Mary) of Shawnee Mission, KS, his sister-in-law Leona Libby (her husband Clinton) of Beals, Maine, his sister-in-law Marion Alley of Brewer, ME, his sister-in-law Jeannine Beal (her husband Calvin) of Beals, ME, his daughter Rhonda Bolduc (her husband Mark) of Lexington, SC, his son Clifton Brown (his wife Sylvia) of Bath, ME, his daughter Esther Hofmeier (her husband David) of Martinez, GA, his grandchildren Morgan Bolduc, Jonathan (Savannah) Bolduc, Robert Hofmeier, Aaron Stone (Tracy), Daniel Hofmeier, Gracie Hofmeier, Joe Partridge, Sabrina Green, Charlie (Kylee) Brown, Samantha Brown, and great-grandchildren Briella Bolduc, Oliver Bolduc, Owen Bolduc, Andreya Gilliam, Dameon Partridge, Zeke Partridge, John Partridge, Madilyn Brown and Carter Brown as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

There will be a memorial service at the Bixler Chapel at the Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, FL Saturday June 4, 2022 at 2 PM. There will be a funeral service at Beals Advent Christian Church in Beals, ME Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 2 PM. A graveside committal will be held for the family at the Great Wass Cemetery following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in memory of Ray to either the Beals Advent Christian Church c/o Leona Libby P O Box 119, Beals, ME 04611 or to the Advent Christian Village Benevolent fund in Dowling Park, FL.

Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com