James Randolph "Randy" Brown, Jr.

James Randolph Brown, Jr. (Randy), age 89, died peacefully at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla, January 25, 2025, after a two-year battle with melanoma.

 Randy was born April 04, 1935, in Atlanta to James Randolph Brown, Sr. and Myra Louise Boynton Brown. His family moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in 1946 and he lived there ever since. Randy attended Fletcher High School, graduating in 1953. He continued his education for a year at Washington and Lee University, where he pledged Phi Delta Theta before transferring to the University of Florida to be with his sister (and meet his future wife!). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business in 1957.

 Randy’s business life was in a variety of fields, from traveling the back roads of Florida selling parking meters and road signs to municipalities, and working with his father remanufacturing thermostats, to running a real estate brokerage, operating a Slush Puppie franchise, manufacturing pipe locators and, most recently, creating flags and windsocks and installing flagpoles. He ran most of these businesses from the building he and his father built in 1971 on 9th Street South in Jacksonville Beach, where he took pride in his commitment to his neighbors, developing relationships with the community, rescuing and loving feral cats, and selling American flags to people who stopped by the office (stories included free of charge).

 As a child, Randy was visited with setbacks that shaped his future self. He and his sister acquired a blood disease as children that brought them close to death. Several years later, Randy suffered an accident that removed half his right foot. Being bed-bound during these occurrences developed in him a penchant for working with his hands and a sense of responsibility to be helpful to others as so many had been to him. He was always thoughtful about doing the right thing and was willing to help whoever asked.

 Randy loved the outdoors. As a young man, he fished the ocean, lakes and intracoastal, and went quail hunting with his dog, Ponte, in the palmetto fields beyond the bypass (A1A to you new-timers). He planted many pine trees on his properties along Solana Road and was careful to preserve as many trees as possible on the land he developed at Kathryn Oaks in Sawgrass. But Randy’s main love was his family and friends. He enjoyed the visits of relatives and former classmates, recounting tales of their travels and shared histories.

 Randy will be remembered for his service in the community: with The Ponte Vedra Community Association; the Volunteer Sheriff’s Patrol; and Boy Scout Troop 277; and, most specifically, Ponte Vedra-Palm Valley School (PVPV) and Christ Church, of which both institutions his family had a hand in establishing. In addition to being a past president of the PTA, he served as PVPV’s Fall Festival emcee for more than a decade, and the image of him in his top hat and tails, announcing cake walks and raffle winners, is assuredly burned into many a former student’s mind. At Christ Church, his journey began with being the Church’s first acolyte at the inaugural service Christmas Eve, 1951. Subsequent years saw him serving on the Vestry, serving many a pancake breakfast and spaghetti supper in the old parish hall, and serving as a chalice bearer and as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. 

 Randy is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jane Campbell Brown; son, James R. Brown, III (Lisa Newbern); daughter, Kathryn B. Schafer (Mac); grandchildren, Hunter Schafer, Hannah Schafer, Tory Schafer, Marissa Brown, Skye Schafer, and Griffin Brown; Siblings, Barbara Kosiba (David Peedin) and Nancy Ballard (Paul); niece, Elizabeth Owen; and nephews, Ronnie Veal, Mike Cook, Dan Cook, Randy Cook and Jeff Kosiba. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Myra B. Cook and Nancy L. Brown; and nephews, Billy Chester and Brett Kosiba.

 A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, February 18 at 11 a.m. at Christ Church, 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach with a reception in the parish hall immediately following the service.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Christ Church, 904-285-6127, or to Community Hospice and Palliative Care, 904-886-3883.