Mr. Johnny Bobo Brown

A funeral service to honor the life of Mr. Johnny Bobo Brown, 93, who died peacefully on Saturday, April 22, 2023, will be held at 2 o’clock on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at West Hartsville Baptist Church in Hartsville, SC. The Rev. Jimmy Beck and The Rev. Kevin Walters will officiate, with burial to follow in Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 24, 2023, from 4:00 pm until 6 pm at Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested for The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or The Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Office of Donor Development, International Headquarters, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607. Mr. Brown was born in Lee County, SC, the son of the late Ms. Mozelle B. Brown. He was married on June 18, 1950, to the love of his life, Lessie Beck Brown, for 73 years. He was a member of West Hartsville Baptist Church, where he and his wife, Lessie, attended for many years. He was a devoted, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Johnny was born in 1929, the year the Great Depression began, which lasted for ten years. The next six years were followed by WWII, and these sixteen combined years inspired and molded his life to have a greater appreciation for every day, to love everyone, and a commitment to make a difference. His personal and professional life always met these standards. He began his professional career by working as the local government liaison to Darlington County for Senator James Pierce “Spot” Mozingo III and Senator Edward E. Saleeby. During his time with Darlington County, he and Mr. Harmon Baldwin organized and established what we know today as The Darlington County Recreation Department. In 1973, Mr. Brown joined the Pee Dee Council of Governments as the Director of Community Service. In 1975, he was promoted to Assistant Director. In 1982, he was promoted to the position of Executive Director of the Pee Dee Council of Governments. He was instrumental in the development of the McLeod Regional Hospital System and was instrumental in receiving Federal funding for the improvement and expansion of Highway 38, Highway 52, and Highway 151, which helped to expand and spur economic development for the Pee Dee Region. During his tenure at the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments, he helped secure over $500 million in Federal grants from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Economic Development Administration (EDA), and Workforce Development. On September 3, 2020, Mr. Brown was awarded The Order of the Palmetto from Governor Henry McMaster, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina to South Carolinians who demonstrate extraordinary lifetime achievement, service, and contributions of national or statewide significance. Mr. Brown would be the first to tell everyone that the distinguished award was a tribute to his dedicated staff and team members. Mr. Brown’s personal hobbies included hunting, fishing, golf, cars, spending time outdoors, and reading the Bible. Surviving are his three children, Suzanne B. Galloway, J. Lewis (Kathy) Brown, and Vicki B. (Jay) Hudson; eight grandchildren, Andrew (Aly) Galloway, Lindsey (Matt) Akman, Joseph (Mindy) Hudson, Luke (Becky) Hudson, Taylor Brown, Claire (Keith) Mitchell, Emily Hudson, Elizabeth (Lee) Galloway. Mr. Brown has five great-grandchildren, Gracyn Galloway, Hudson Galloway, Lucas Hudson, Amelia Hudson, and Lucy Hudson. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lessie B. Brown, and grandson, Lee Galloway. The family would like to express gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Brown’s loyal friend, Barbara Curry.

Tributes

Mr. Johnny Bobo Brown

November 14, 1929 - April 22, 2023