With great sadness, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) announced the passing of Dr. Ted Brown, 65, on May 20, 2017. A cause of death was not released by Dr. Brown's family.
Ted Brown
Dr. Ted Brown
Dr. Brown began serving as interim associate general secretary for the Division of Higher Education on April 3, 2017. He previously served on the GBHEM Board of Directors for two consecutive quadrennia, as vice president of the Division of Higher Education. He also served as the president of the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU).
Most notably, Dr. Brown served as the 30th president of Martin Methodist College for nearly 20 years. During his tenure, the college saw tremendous growth in enrollment, academic programs and the physical size of the campus. He also served on the South Central Tennessee Workforce Development Board and completed a three-year term as chair of the Council of Presidents of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Dr. Brown served as chair of the Giles County Chamber of Commerce and president of the Pulaski Rotary Club, along with service to the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club. He was a member of the executive board of the Middle Tennessee Boy Scout Council and served in various roles with the David Crocket District Committee.
Dr. Brown, a native of southern New Jersey, grew up as an active member of The United Methodist Church. He graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College with a degree in Philosophy. Dr. Brown later earned his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy in Higher Education Leadership at Vanderbilt University. He also conducted post-doctoral work at Harvard University.
Dr. Brown’s obituary shares more about his impact within The United Methodist Church, his career and, most importantly, among his family and friends.
“Ted’s leadership and vision helped to shape the landscape of Martin Methodist College, his church, his community, and the international presence of the Methodist church in higher education. He cherished his role as mentor to students and colleagues alike. Ted loved working with his hands to craft wooden furniture, toys, and presents for his friends and family. He attacked every home improvement challenge with vigor and was dubbed “the gadget guy” by his friends. He readily offered his handyman services to others who were in need. Ted relished the role of family travel agent and planned amazing vacations down to the very last detail. He enjoyed international travel, boating, model rocketry, and contemporary jazz. Of all the roles he played during his lifetime, the one he cherished the most was as G-Pa to his beloved grandchildren, William and Sadie. Ted was dedicated to his family: his wife Cheryl, his sons Ted(dy) and Tyler, his daughter-in-law Stephanie, his sister and brother-in-law Donna & Gordon Butler, his great aunts Susie Schulz and Sally Brown, and precious nieces, nephews, and cousins.”
To view Brown’s complete obituary, visit www.bennettmay.com.
Ebony Lincoln serves as director of communications for the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry.