Tommy, born May 5, 1949, was one of Bill and Esther Brown’s 14 rough & tumble children.  “Toby,” as he was nicked-named grew up on the banks of the Brazos River believing his name was Thomas Samuel for 17 years.  However, during his 18th year his dad finally confessed to naming him Archie Thomas because that was his favorite name, and he was in a tiff with Esther when the nurse came around with the birth certificate. 

With no choice but to accept this new identity, Tommy left South Texas and headed north to Southwestern Assembly of God College.  Tommy’s best friend’s father, Pastor B. B. Hankins, saw to it that Tommy’s first semester of college was paid for, bought some new clothes for him and put Tommy on a bus toward a different future.  There at SAGC Tommy began collecting lifelong friends who to this day still get together several times a year. 

It was at SAGC that Mary Brown caught Tommy’s eye and she eventually became Mary Brown Brown.  (And no, they’re not related:))  His love for Mary was unwavering.  He was her champion, her confidante and her cohort for their entire life together.  He demonstrated to his children what real love looks like every day in every season by how he treated their mother.

Tommy was never afraid of work.  By turns he was a cotton picker, dockhand, hay bailer, roofer and insurance salesman.  But it was when Mr. Ed Kenyan hired him to work at Piggly Wiggly that Tommy found his stride.  He developed financial, management and leadership skills that God later used for His purposes.  Mr. Kenyan was more than just a boss and mentor, Tommy and he remained true friends throughout the rest of his life.

After a season of deep soul-searching, Tommy left Kenyan Enterprises and acknowledged God’s call for him to be a full-time pastor.  He was accepted as the pastor of a fledging congregation known as Trinity Chapel and he remained faithful to that congregation for his entire life.  From the earliest days at Trinity, Pastor Tommy’s motto was, “Find a hurt and heal it.  Find a need and fill it.”  Pastor Tommy knew the effects of poverty because of his childhood and he worked tirelessly to alleviate it.  From organizing the annual canned food drive for the Springhill area, to campaigning for funding for a safe house for battered women & children in our area, he would give whatever he had to help a hurting heart.

Pastor Tommy believed that all people, no matter their skin color, gender or background, mattered to God.  From the earliest days of his ministry, Pastor Tommy not only welcomed people of different races and ethnic backgrounds, but he actively encouraged their participation.  Believing that diversity brings strength, he promoted minorities and women as deacons, lay leaders and board members.  He regularly offered his pulpit to others, knowing that the body of Christ is strengthened by hearing the testimony of all who love God.

As part of Trinity’s outreach programs, Pastor Tommy spearheaded the Saturday Sunday School ministry.  Starting with Sidewalk Sunday Schools in neighborhoods and eventually bussing in kids from Cullen, Bradley and Cotton Valley, hundreds of kids were fed a hot breakfast, led in high energy praise and worship & heard God’s Word taught in an age- appropriate manner.  This ministry positively affected not only the children who attended, but every adult and teen who gave of their time and talent as well.

Pastor Tommy may not have been born in Springhill, but he adopted this area and loved it like it was his own.  He coached countless seasons of Little League baseball, organized 4th of July firework shows and ran Love Thy Neighbor Ministries where he distributed food to needy families on a weekly basis.

After retirement, Pastor Tommy did not kick back and play ping-pong.  No, he joined his son, Pastor Marcus, as he established a new congregation in Fort Smith, Arkansas.  From leading his small groups, preaching at homeless shelters and visiting the sick, he was still finding needs and meeting them.  Of course, he was also teaching his grandchildren how to drive, coaching yet more baseball teams and being the greatest homework helper ever.

Pastor Tommy passed away June 6, 2020, in Shreveport, Louisiana, due to coronavirus complications.  He leaves behind his 3 children, Tracy, Marcy and Marcus, who are so incredibly grateful to have been given this man for a father.  He also leaves behind five dearly beloved grandchildren, Cassie, Jessie, Ashlyn, Austin and Ainsley, and a daughter-in-law, Brook, and son-in-law, Richard, who he counted himself lucky to call family.

Also, he also leaves behind his surviving Brown siblings, Melvin, David & Phillip, Sandra, DeAnne, Wanda, Vicky, Patti-Rae & Shannon, together with a gaggle of nieces, nephews and cousins who he ceaselessly teased but desperately loved. 

And finally, he leaves behind some of the dearest and closest friends a man can be blessed with, including one, Robert Benson, who was truly a Prov 20:6 friend, “Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?”

He was welcomed into heaven by his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, along with his wife, Mary, parents, Bill and Esther Brown, sisters, Marilyn Jean Johnson, Virginia Ruth Johnson and Laura Louise Papp along with one brother, Robert Adrian Brown.

He truly did store up his wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor flame can harm it.  And it is our firm belief that he is now enjoying the fruit of it.

For the last several months, Pastor Tommy had been putting aside money to fund the building of a water well in Peru.  In lieu of flowers, we are encouraging anyone who would like to help us make this last dream of his a reality to donate to Hope For All Nations at the following web address:  www.hopeforallnations.cc  or postal address:  Hope For All Nations, 5101 Fresno St, Fort Smith, AR  72903

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the family will hold a private graveside service.  We would like to invite everyone to attend a celebration of life for Pastor Tommy Brown in a Facebook Live Memorial Service that is currently being planned.  To receive a notification of this event, simply search for NLC Fort Smith on Facebook and “like” their page.  Please say “yes” to any notification request.

The family has determined that the virus will not rob them of their opportunity to share stories, tributes, pictures or video clips.  A memorial website has been set up at: www.gatheringus.com/memorial/tommy-brown/3936.   Even if you have posted something already on Facebook, feel free to repost here so all Pastor Tommy’s friends and family can together celebrate a life well lived.