Jonathan Brown Obituary

Pastor Jonathan D. Brown

Dec 4, 1956 - Nov 26, 2022

Sandusky

Jonathan David Brown, 65, after a lengthy illness that he battled like a warrior, gained his wings and entered the pearly gates of Heaven on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. He was surrounded by his loving and supportive family.

Jonathan was born Tuesday, Dec. 4, 1956, to Pervis D. Brown Sr. and Velma (Rollison) Pray. He was born the youngest son out of 10 siblings. He graduated from Perkins High School, class of 1975. Jonathan's love for pastoring was cultivated from his father, Pastor Pervis D. Brown Sr., Founder and Pastor for Church of Philadelphia. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in Spring of 1982 to attend the renowned seminary college American Baptist College. While in attendance, he was under the tutelage of the late Pastor L.W. Johnson of St. Luke A.M.E Church in Gallatin, Tennessee. In 1983, he was ordained as an Elder in the A.M.E Church while in Warren, Ohio. Upon graduating from American Baptist College in 1984, Jonathan served as Assistant Pastor to Reverend Harry L. Wilson of the Greater Bethel A.M.E Church in Nashville.

In Nov., 1987, Jonathan was appointed Lead Pastor of his first church, Sweet Bethel A.M.E Church of Campbellsville, Kentucky. He relocated to Dothan, Alabama, in Nov., 1990, where he pastored at Mother Church of Alabama and Cherry Street A.M.E Church, both in Dothan, Alabama, and St. Paul A.M.E Church in Brundidge, Alabama. Lastly, he served at St. Luke A.M.E Church in Eufaula, Alabama, until Spring, 2004. In May, 2006, Jonathan decided it was time to return to his roots, The Church of Philadelphia, where he served faithfully as Pastor until his health began to fail. Along with pastoring his own church, Jonathan was a faithful servant ministering weekly in the Erie County Jailhouse Ministry, where formidable bonds with the men were made, lasting after their release.

Jonathan is survived in life by his wife, Lawana D.(Jones) Brown; sisters, Mattie Owens and Patricia Brown, both of Sandusky, Gloria (Abraham) Brown-Wade of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, Velma (Calvin) Brown-Lee of Columbus, Ohio, Delores (Commodore) Burel of Fremont, and Amelia (Michael) Cleveland-Traylor of San Antonio, Texas; brothers, Pervis (Sandra) Brown Sr. and Josiah (Renee) Brown Sr., both of Sandusky; stepchildren, Adrian Jones and Amber Jones, both of Dothan, Alabama, and Jeremy Jones of Tennessee; stepgrandchildren, Adrianna Koonce, Jeremy Jones, and Jonathan Jones; Pastor, Clayton Howard of Ebenezer Baptist Church, who was an exceptional brother and friend; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, church members, and friends.

Jonathan was preceded in death by his mother, Velma M. Pray in 1988; father, Pervis D. Brown Sr. in 2006; sister, Iona M. Brown in 1963; brother-in-law, Ervin Owens in 2019; and stepson, Gregory Jones.

Family and friends may call at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, until the time of Jonathan's funeral at 1 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1215 Pierce Street, Sandusky, Ohio, 44870. The Reverend Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor will be the Officiant and Minister Delores Burel will be the Eulogist. Pastor Jonathan D. Brown will return to Dothan, Alabama, for his final resting place. Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky, is handling arrangements.

Condolences may be made to the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" - 2 Corinthians 5:8