Harold Brown Obituary

Harold James "Jim" Brown, Jr., died November 10, 2004 of heart and respiratory failure. A gifted musician, Jim was born June 3, 1948 in Birmingham, AL., son of classical musicians Mary Garrett Brown and Harold James Brown, Sr. Jim overcame serious childhood medical difficulties to become, as a teenager, one of the youngest members of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, of which his parents were founding members. He attended Indian Springs School in Indian Springs, AL., near Birmingham, and the University of Rochester, New York, where he also did graduate work in French literature and studied timpani at Eastman School of Music with John Beck. Jim taught French at Indian Springs School for three years and played percussion in the Birminham Symphony. He was the principal timpanist of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for 25 years. He was instrumental in commissioning a timpani concerto, "Harmonic Rhythm&Oacu te; by composer Russell Peck, which he premiered as soloist with the Savannah Symphony Orchestra on February 10, 2001. Jim also served as principal timpanist of the Hilton Head Orchestra. For over ten years, he announced classical music on public radio station WSVH. Jim was married for 21 years to Barbara Battey Brown of Savannah. He is survived by a sister, Marilyn Brown and a niece, Claire Brown Forbes, of New Orleans, LA. Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Friday, November 12, 2004 at Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel. Graveside service: Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 2 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, AL. A memorial service will be held in Savannah at a later date. Memorial Contributions: AASU Youth Orchestra Foundation, c/o Department of Art Music and Theatre. Armstrong Atlantic State University, 11935 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA 31419 or Indian Springs School, 190 Woodward Dr., Indian Springs, AL 35124. Hubert C. Baker Funeral Home 7415 Hodgson Me morial Dr Savannah, GA. 31406 (912) 927-1999 Savannah Morning News, November 12, 2004 Please sign our Obituary Guestbook at www.savannahnow.com