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Walter Palmer Brown Sr, son of the late Lorena Brown and the late Zeb Sutton, was born on June 6, 1930 ln Vaughn, North Carolina. Palmer, as he was affectionately called, departed this life early Thursday morning, November 17, 2016 at Stella Maris Hospice Center in Lutherville- Timonium, Maryland.
Palmer received his formal education in the Warren County School system in North Carolina. Elvin Brown, his grandfather returned home from his railroad job to find Palmer, single handedly clearing the land on their rural farm of trees. Elvin proclaimed "that boy sure is a hard worker."
In 1952, Palmer moved his former wife and family to Baltimore, Maryland. He obtained employment at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Sparrows Point, Maryland and worked there for more than twenty years. While at the steel mill, Palmer moonlighted at Western Auto changing tires and at Mr. Wilcott's cutting grass,
Always the entrepreneur. Palmer opened Brownie’s Washing Machine Repair Service. Later he started Hold Tight Fence Company, specializing in ornamental iron and chain link fencing along with cement Work and pot hole repairs. As his fencing installation business began to flourish and opportunities increased. Palmer decided to step out on faith. In 1972, he resigned from his job at the steel mill.
Palmer was proud of having his own business and worked tirelessly until a decline in his health forced hlm to slow down and modify his fencing services. Palmer being a self-taught welder, then focused on fence repairs and installing guard rails. Due to his declining health, it became necessary for him to retire after over forty years. Palmer shared, "I don't want to be sitting around looking out no window”
Palmer married Olivia Gilliam in June 1980. He would sit at their dining room table in anticipation of the good meals (especially the collards) being prepared by his wife, Olivia. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching the Baltimore Orioles. Palmer would often reminisce about times past, telling stories like a griot. He enjoyed cooking and would prepare his famous potato salad, his brownie burgers with the secret ingredients or a big pot of his beloved beans. Palmer loved his family and embraced his role as "Uncle Palmer" and "Pop Pop".
He leaves to cherish his memory: Devoted wife Olivia; three daughters, Linda Griffin, Debra Brown, and Darlene Gilliam; one son, Antonio Harris; three brothers, Bernard, Harry and Stewart Sutton; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother-ln-law John Trent; Nathaniel and Thermond Thomas; sisters-in-law, Clarine Hines, Julia Lewis, Patricia Trent, Emma Sutton, Elizabeth Sutton, Barbara Thomas, Otelia Thomas; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and coworker. |
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Obituary Walter Palmer Brown |
