Rufus B. Brown Jr.
WEDGEFIELD — On May 27, 2013, Christ’s servant, Rufus Byron Brown Jr., went home to be with our Lord.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Martha Eleanor Ryan Brown.
Brown was born in 1927 in Yazoo City, Miss. He grew up across the South, as his family followed his father, a sawmill band sawyer. The family moved where the work was, and such was the initiation for Byron. He learned firsthand how to keep his eyes on the horizon to take advantage of the rising tide. His life was an amazing journey of hard work, a positive mindset, constant improvement and the embracement of change as a way of ushering in new life and a better way.
In 1944 he attended Clemson University. While at Clemson, he joined the U.S. Navy. The country was at war, and every male turning 18 was required to enlist. Always proactive, Byron enlisted prior to being drafted. In 1946, after the war ended, he was honorably discharged and came back to Clemson. He credits the genius and generosity of the G.I. Bill, which granted a college education to all veterans, in allowing him to be able to finish his formal education.
While working in a sawmill during summer break, Byron met a University of Michigan forestry graduate who influenced him to switch his major from civil engineering at Clemson to wood technology at the University of Michigan. This change forever altered the course of his future. After graduating from Michigan in 1950, he moved to Sumter, where his father was manager of the Williams Furniture Co.’s sawmill in Alcolu.
Byron’s degree helped earn him a job with Williams Furniture Co., where in 1950, he earned $55 for a 50-hour work week. This was good pay at the time, but nothing compared to the treasure that awaited him. While enjoying a rare afternoon off, he and his good friend Billy Brunson were driving down the street in Sumter when Byron beheld an amazing sight — a beautiful red-headed young lady, Martha Eleanor Ryan, wearing a green plaid coat, waiting to cross the street with her friend.
Billy knew her friend, so they stopped to say hello. It was love at first sight. Byron and Martha married June 9, 1951. In his words: “Marrying Martha Eleanor Ryan is the best thing that ever happened to me. It changed the entire course of my life. At that time, I was headed in the wrong direction. This marriage turned me in a new and much better direction.” From 1952-1966, Byron and Martha had three children, moved into a new home and started their own businesses.
An entrepreneurial spirit was always at Byron’s core. With the help of his wife, Byron was the founder and CEO of two highly successful businesses. First, in June 1966, he opened the first Ethan Allen Furniture Gallery in Columbia. He served clients in the Midlands for more than 20 years, eventually expanding the business, opening another gallery in Augusta, Ga. He created the concept of furniture groupings on the sales floor and introduced innovative sales techniques that created a better shopping experience for customers.
Finally, Byron founded Tipperary Sales Inc. / La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries. He opened one La-Z-Boy Showcase Shoppe in Columbia and then another in Augusta. Byron established this business and gifted it to his children, who have grown the business to service clients in numerous markets in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Most importantly, Byron and Martha dedicated both businesses to the glory of God and asked Him to bless the work of their hands. Byron’s children carry on this faithful offering.
Upon retiring, Byron enjoyed 20 summers at their cabin in Western North Carolina where he rode horses, hiked multiple trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, entertained family and friends and worked at Haywood Christian Ministries. He took two hiking trips to the British Isles and created volumes of genealogical research that is still connecting families today.
Teaching and giving to his children and grandchildren was a primary goal for Byron; he not only gave them a basis of faith in God, but also taught the basics of good stewardship of what you have, the Christian discipline of tithing and committed outreach to others. The name “Byron” is from the Latin meaning “Magnanimous Nature,” and this is certainly true for Rufus Byron Brown Jr. He was a tree man, a sailor, a scholar, a vestryman, a friend, a servant, a visionary, a horseman, a businessman, a Rotarian, a runner, a traveler, a genealogist, a cook, a teacher, a leader, a publisher, a Master Gardener, an excellent dancer, and most importantly a Christian soldier. He served 15 years in both Cursillo in Christianity and Kairos prison ministries in South Carolina, where he helped bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ.
Byron loved his family openly and was very proud of them all. He loved his work, loved nature and loved the Lord; truly his was a life well-lived.
His family gives God the glory for blessing the life of His beloved child Byron, and celebrates now his place in Christ’s kingdom.
Byron was preceded in death by his parents, Rufus Byron Brown Sr. and Cornelia Baker Brown; and his brother W. Fredrick Brown.
Survivors include his son, Rufus Byron Brown III, and daughter-in-law, Melanie Johnson Brown of Augusta; two daughters, Charlotte Ryan Brown Floyd, and a son-in-law, Michael Davis Floyd of Ridgeway, and Martha Percival Brown.
He also leaves five devoted grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Michael Patrick Floyd and his daughter, Margaret Ryan Floyd, of Ridgeway; Christopher Laird Floyd of Wedgefield; Elizabeth Ryan Floyd Livingston and her husband, Scott Furman Livingston, of Little Mountain, and their daughter, Payton Elizabeth Livingston; Rufus Byron Brown IV and his wife, Jennifer Bays Brown, of Charlotte, N.C., and their daughter, Taylor Madison Brown, and their son, Rufus Bryson Brown V; and Lauren Brown Hopkins and her husband, Lewis LeGrand Hopkins III, of St. Simons Island, Ga., and their daughter Melanie Grace Hopkins.
He is also survived by his younger brother, John R. Brown of Chapel Hill, N.C.
The family requests that memorials be sent in lieu of flowers to Cursillo in Christianity, c/o: Elizabeth Tezza Simmonite, 2220 Atlantic Ave., Sullivans Island, SC 29482; or Kairos of South Carolina, P.O. Box 6211, Columbia, SC 29260.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Church of the Holy Cross in Stateburg with the Revs. Dr. John Barr, Marcus Kaiser and Dan Clarke officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Wedgefield Presbyterian Church.
The family will receive guests at the family home, Tipperary, following the services.
Michael Patrick Floyd, Christopher Laird Floyd, Rufus Byron Brown IV, Lewis LeGrand Hopkins III, Scott Furman Livingston and Ervin Harwood Weatherly Jr. will serve as pallbearers.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.