Urle Brown

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Urle Brown transitioned to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 18 at Woodland Country Manor in Somerville, Ohio. He was 85 years old.   

Born on November 29, 1934 in Mount Hope, Alabama, Urle was the son of Artis Brown and Edna White. The youngest of seven children, he was affectionately known as “Young-blood”. He was raised in a God-fearing family, attended a local Baptist church, and accepted Christ at the age of 11. 

Urle graduated from Leighton Training School in 1952 and moved to Oxford, Ohio a year later at the age of 19. During a visit back home to Alabama, he was introduced to the woman who would become the love of his life, Bettye Byrd. The two were married on July 20, 1957. Through this union, they had three children, Chris, Liz and Denise. 

A dedicated employee at General Electric, Urle worked as a jet engine assembler until he retired in 1996, after 36 years of service. Retirement allowed him to spend more time doing what he loved the most: Being with family, serving at his church, gardening and fishing. 

Urle demonstrated the love of Christ throughout his life. A faithful member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, he served as a steward, trustee, usher, and member of the finance committee. He also sang in the choir and drove the church van to transport children and adults to and from church. 

Urle and his wife opened their home to countless people, welcoming many children and adults into their family. They generously gave food from their garden, money from their pockets and love from their hearts, without ever asking for anything in return. A true servant in the Oxford community, Urle partnered with local grocers to collect and distribute food to those in need. 

Urle’s acts of service were recognized by numerous organizations, including but not limited to Bethel A.M.E. Church and the Oxford Branch of the NAACP, where he was a lifetime member and a recipient of the NAACP Service Award. Along with his brother Eldred, he was also recognized as a recipient of the Oxford Citizens of the Year award. 

Urle was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61½ years Bettye; son Christopher (Shelby Jean); brothers Harvey Cee (Lucy Ann), Thom (Lottie Bea), Herschel (Leslie), and Jimmy (Cleo); and parents, Artis and Edna Brown. Urle leaves to cherish his memory his daughters Liz and Denise Brown; daughter-in-law Shelby Jean Brown; sister Geneva Byrd; brother Eldred (Martha Sue) Brown; grandchildren Doronna (Greg) Vickers, Marrio, Marco and Terry Christopher Brown, Jazmine Hazelwood and Christopher Jackson; great-grandchildren Kelsey (David) Harding, Tyana Owens, Kamiah Vickers, Peyton Lipscomb, Joseph Brown, and Christopher Kelly Brown; great-great-granddaughter Parker Kay Harding; God-daughters, God-sons and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. 

A private visitation was held on Monday, November 23 at the Ogle & Paul R. Young Funeral Home, followed by the interment at Woodside Cemetery in Oxford. The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Dr. Edward Crane and the staff at TriHealth Cancer Institute, McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital; and the staff at Woodland Country Manor. Memorial contributions in Urle Brown’s name can be made to Bethel A.M.E. Church or the Oxford Branch of the NAACP Scholarship Fund.