Eugene Brown, III

Eugene Brown III was born on September 20, 1943 to Eugene Brown, Jr. and V’Ella Brown in Chicago, Illinois.

He and his family eventually moved to Gary, Indiana, where he grew up around good neighbors and friends. Upon graduating from high school, Eugene enlisted in the United States Navy and served our nation from May 1963 to May 1967, reaching the grade of E-4 as a Gunner’s Mate. After traveling the great oceans and visiting many exotic countries, he decided to end his Naval career in 1967 and plant his roots in Suffolk, VA, where he met the love of his life, Jeanette McClenny, whom he married in June of 1973.

Eugene was no stranger to hard work. He started off his civilian careers first as a cook for Obici Hospital and returned back to Obici in his later years as an Environmental Services Technician, where he retired in the early 2000s. His places of employment over the years included General Electric from 1966 until the close of the facility in 1986 and Suffolk Public Schools.

Eugene had a great love for music. He was a member of the popular band, the Roc-Kays, out of Suffolk, VA where he served as a percussionist, but decided to use his talents for the Lord, once he was saved through faith in Jesus Christ. He served the Lord through playing the guitar, bass, and drums for the churches he attended. He was always honing his craft by recording songs off the radio and practicing them for hours, eventually playing those songs for the church.

Eugene loved to laugh. He would tell funny stories about his growing up in Chicago and Gary. His favorite show to watch, whether in TV reruns or on DVDs, was Sanford and Son. You could hear him laughing loudly at the jokes.

He enjoyed other hobbies, such as hunting, fishing, and auto mechanics.  

Eugene’s greatest joy was serving the Lord. After dedicating his life to the Lord at St. Matthew Holiness Church in Suffolk, VA during the 1970s, he never looked back. From that day until God took him home, he served the Lord with a fervent dedication. He was one of the founding members of the Eveready Prayer Band – a group of saints who conducted prayer services in various neighborhoods in Suffolk, praying for people and leading them to Christ. He drove church members who didn’t have transportation back and forth to church, even driving the church’s bus for some time. He loved to read and preach God’s Word; he preached his last sermons as an Elder at New St. Matthew Holiness Church, deciding to begin and end his decades of holy service at this great church.

Eugene leaves behind a great legacy of loving God and loving his family and community.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene, Jr. and V’Ella Brown, sisters Lana Jean Williams and Joann Alexander; wife of 49 years Jeanette McClenny Brown; son Willie “Tommy” Colbert;  brothers-in-law Horace “Sonny” McClenny, Carlton Eley, and  James Williams; sister-in-law Alice Pearman; and grandson Matthew Paige.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Fleater Seaborn and her son, Joel Ricks; his daughters Sylvia Izomo, Denise Teal (Jeri), Latisha Baines (Michael) and Tomeka Paige (Willie); sons, William “Jerry” Colbert (Tamerio), Gene Brown (Natasha); sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Parson and Patricia Eley; brothers-in-law, Boussean McClenny (Esther), Royal Eley, Jr. (Mattie), James Eley (Cary); 22 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends. 

A public viewing will be held on 4-7pm, Thursday, September 3, 2026 in the Melvin J. Blowe Chapel of Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. A celebration of life will be held 12:00pm, Friday, September 4, 2026 at New St. Matthews Holiness Church. Mr. Brown will be laid to rest with military honors at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 3:00pm. The family has entrusted Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. with services rendered with dignity, compassion, and care.