Lewis R. Brown, Sr.
Posted: March 27, 2019
Dr. Lewis R. Brown, Sr., passed away peacefully, at the age of 88, Sunday, March 24, 2019, at his home in Starkville, MS, surrounded by his family. Dr. Brown was born in Houston, TX, August 11, 1930. He was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Helen C. Brown; and his parents, Cmdr. Robert J. Brown, Jr. and Helen Cier Brown; and one son, Robert Lewis Brown. He is survived by his three children: daughter, Donna Helen Brown South (Lou); and two sons, David Theodore Brown (Bonnie) and Lewis Raymond Brown, Jr.; four grandchildren, Emily Ruth Echols Easterling (Joshua), Louis Clayton South, II (Madison), Caleb Anthony Brown and Andrew Harris Brown; two great-grandchildren, Madelyn Sage Easterling and Mason Cohen South; and one step-granddaughter, Amy Nichole South Jackson (Ashley) and her children, Rachel Elizabeth, Jacob Perry, Sydney Elizabeth and Sarah Ashley. He has one surviving sister, Martha Brown King and many nieces and nephews. Dr. Brown attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, however, he received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from Louisiana State University with a major field of Microbiology. He received numerous honors to include MSU Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research, Induction into Education Hall of Fame in Starkville, Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and the Society for Industrial Microbiology and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Sigma Xi. The MSU ASM Student Chapter named an award, Dr. Lewis Brown Lectureship Award Series, in his honor in 2012. Departmental Fellowships were named the Lewis R. Brown Fellowships. He was a member of many professional organizations and served as an officer in many of them. Dr. Brown was admired and loved by his students. He wouldn’t ask them to do anything he wouldn’t do. Dr. Brown held a top secret government clearance and was engaged in classified work as Assistant Branch Chief at Production Development Labs in Pine Bluff, Arsenal, AR. He served as an Instructor in Bacteriology and Research Assistant at Louisiana. Additionally, he set up a private lab in Baton Rouge, where he served as a consultant to a number of individuals and organizations in areas of wastewater treatment and petroleum microbiology. Beginning in 1961, Dr. Brown began his tenure at Mississippi State University, serving the Microbiology Department as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, then Professor. He also served as Assistant Dean followed by Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. As needed, he served as Acting Head of the Department of Microbiology. Dr. Brown served as Research Professor and Professor Emeritus of Microbiology at Mississippi State University until his final retirement in 2015. Dr. Brown’s contributions to the university in research and teaching grant support totaled $12,206,291 or equivalent today to $27,062,974. He was the major professor for 28 Master’s Degree students and 13 Doctorial students. Dr. Brown is the author or co-author for 147 publications, including 9 patents. Dr. Brown served his community teaching Sunday school, helping organize the first PeeWee Football league and coaching many ball teams. He was always willing to give his time and talents to anyone who asked. Dr. Brown’s service will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2019. The visitation begins at 1:00 PM followed by the funeral service at 3:00 PM at Welch Funeral Home in Starkville, MS. Burial will be in Memorial Garden Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to the First United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS 39759, Samaritan’s Purse, 801 Bamboo Road, Boone, NC 28607, Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or the charity of your choice in his memory. You may leave the family a condolence at www.welchfuneralhomes.com.