James Benton "Jb" Brown

James Benton (“JB”) Brown
April 16, 1925 – July 2, 2012

James Benton (“JB”) Brown of Jonesboro, AR passed away July 2, 2012 at the age of
87. JB was born on April 16, 1925 in Manila, AR, the son of Bud and Myrtle Brown.

He grew up in Manila, AR, where he graduated high school. JB joined the US Army at 18 years of age and served in Germany during World War II. After the war, JB attended Arkansas State University, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Education and Masters in School Administration. He returned to Manila to teach
school, and subsequently became the Principal of Manila Junior High School.

JB served as the Mayor of Manila for 18 years, from 1965 until 1982. Under his administration, the Manila Hospital was built. He was a member of the First United
Methodist Church of Manila, serving as the Chairman of the Administrative Council
for many years. He was married to Mary Helen Duckworth in 1970. JB moved to Jonesboro, AR, in 2000, and lived there until his death.

JB is survived by sons Dr. Dwight Duckworth and his wife Dena of Springdale, AR,
and Dr. Benton Brown and his wife Dini of Madison, NJ;

granddaughters Alyssa and
Ashley Duckworth, of Springdale, AR; and cousins Macky Joe Ashabranner, Benton
Ashabranner, Roy Lee Ashabranner, Ann Wells, Janice Crooms, and Melvin Brown.

JB was preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle Brown; his father, Bud Brown; and sons Dr. Cary Crawford and Alan Duckworth.

The family would like to thank the Keith Weyer family for their shared friendship, love and care and Dr. John Campbell, Dr. Ben Owens and the staff of The Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House for their care of JB.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 6 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM and services at 2:30 PM at Emerson Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Winningham officiating. Interment will be in the Manila Cemetery in Manila, AR.

Honorary pallbearers will be the "McDonalds Coffee Club".

In lieu of flowers, family requests memorials be made to: First United Methodist Church
209 S. Baltimore Ave., Manila, AR 72442 (870) 561-4936 or Methodist Family Health Foundation, P.O. Box, 56050 Little Rock, Arkansas 72215.