Joseph Brown Jr.

Obituary For Joseph Brown Jr.

Service will be Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Alfred Street Baptist Church 301 South Alfred Street. Alexandria, VA 22314

Visitation 10:00am

Funeral 11:00am

Interment will be at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Life Reflections

Joseph Brown Jr.

(January 24, 1938 – May 3, 2026)

Joseph Brown Sr. and Lottie Bellinger Brown welcomed the second of their five children (Artlee, Robert, Willie Ray, and Roger) on January 24, 1938, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The midwife, however, rushing from another birth incorrectly recorded the name as Oscar instead of Joseph—an error that he would have to officially correct on his birth certificate. Joseph Sr., a barber and carpenter, built the house on Highway 301 (along Edisto Drive) where the family lived and thrived. The family patriarch died on December 7, 1941, in patriotic service to his country during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that prompted the United States official involvement in World War II.

Mrs. Lottie Bellinger Brown’s extended family surrounded Joe, his sister, and his brothers with the unconditional but tough love necessary for African American children to survive in the segregated South. Joe Jr.’s easygoing and likeable personality made him a popular figure along “the Drive” where Orangeburg’s Black population formed community in the face of adversity and earned him the nickname of “Mayor Brown.” The family attended Jerusalem United Methodist Church where Joe accepted the Lord and taught Sunday school. His mother often said that “her boy could do anything” and meant it! As he matriculated through Riverside Elementary, Dunton Colored Elementary School, and Wilkinson High School, he learned from dedicated African American teachers, cultivated lifelong friendships, and excelled in the study of math. He wanted to enlist in the United States Army, but Mrs. Brown informed him that he was going to college. The compromise was to join the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) at (what was then) South Carolina State College. At SC State, you could find Mayor Brown, a math education major, in the Student Union or at the Highway 301 Supper Club as much as in the classroom or in ROTC rotation. During this time, he and Cassandra Jamison, also an Orangeburg resident and State coed as well as his good friend Robert Dwight’s sister, began dating. This courtship led to a marriage lasting almost 67 years. Though a serious car accident threatened to derail his chosen career, his betrothed, Cassandra, nursed him back to health, and South Carolina State’s military science professor made sure he graduated and received his commission.

Although his first professional job was as a statistician in New York City, military service called: first with the Army Reserves at Fort Benning, Georgia, and then with the United States Army at Fort Ord, California. The first two children of Joe and Cassandra’s union, Gregory Raynard and Joseph III, were born at Fort Ord. Other postings and tours of duty included Korea, Fort Dix, New Jersey, Vietnam, Fort Belvoir and Fort Myer, Virginia, and Zweibruecken, Germany. Lieutenant Brown rose quicky through the ranks because of two tours serving his country in Vietnam. A 1969 news story reported that Major Joseph Brown Jr. had earned the Bronze Star Medal “for meritorious service in connection with military operations against a hostile military force in the Republic of Vietnam.” During this tour from January to December 1968, he served as the Regimental Staff Advisor, 42nd Infantry Regiment, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Additional medals awarded included the Army Commendation Medal, with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Badge, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross.

The Easter Offensive, by Col G.H. Turley, documents part of Major Brown’s second Vietnam posting in 1972. The Easter Offensive was a massive, three-pronged attack by the North Vietnamese against the South beginning on Good Friday, March 30, 1972. At the time, most American troops had withdrawn with the strategy of Vietnamization implemented—meaning that the South Vietnamese forces would take over the American bases and continue to defend themselves as the two powers moved toward peace talks. Lt. Colonel Bill Camper was the senior advisor to the 56th Regiment of the ARVN and Major Brown was his deputy advisor. The handful of Army and Marine advisors called COVANS, or friends, by the Vietnamese forces “performed heroically under conditions seldom faced by Americans in that war.” Directly in the battle zone and under attack by enemy fire, Lt. Colonel Camper and Major Brown faced a major dilemma when they learned from their Vietnamese counterpart, Lt. Colonel Pham Van Dinh, that he was going to go against orders and surrender Camp Campell. The two Americans could not endorse that plan, but they had little time to evacuate and would be heading straight into hostile territory and enemy fire. They had to destroy their bunker and all classified materials before attempting any escape. The Americans left with only their rucksacks and two Vietnamese radio operators who had agreed to go with them. As luck would have it, an Army helicopter was in the vicinity delivering supplies and got rerouted to pick up the American military advisors. Once the enemy forces spotted the helicopter, they began firing, making the extraction that much more perilous. Some of the surrendering troops also saw an opportunity to escape and attempted to board the troop transport vehicle as well—resulting in a chaotic free-for-all. “In the case of Lieutenant Colonel Camper and Major Brown, these two officers demonstrated far above and beyond the call of duty that they possessed those extraordinary qualities of which heroes are made.” Major Brown’s heroic service that day did not earn another medal or promotion. He and Lt. Colonel Camper, however, did not miss a beat and resumed their advisory roles with the 3rd ARVN, 2nd Division facing further perilous situations.

With a broad smile and twinkle in his eye, Joe was typically the life of the party but never braggadocious about his accomplishments and valor. Life after combat duty included cub scout meetings, dance recitals, football games, birthday parties, gatherings with family and friends, and frequent trips back to his beloved Orangeburg. While stationed at Fort Dix, Joe and Cassandra were blessed with their first daughter, Joyce Yvette, and Tamara Lizette was born almost four years later at Fort Belvoir. Joe Brown earned a master’s degree in management and supervisory personnel management from Central Michigan State University in 1977. After a tour in Germany, and 20 years of service to the country, he retired from the Army and worked as a defense contractor for MANTECH.

During Joe’s life, he enjoyed playing golf and being an active and committed member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, where he served as the 15th President of the Theta Rho Lambda chapter. He also held leadership roles in the Dale City Lions Club and was a member of the Fellowship Club. He and Cassandra loved spending time with family, and they vacationed extensively on cruises.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Sr. and Lottie Brown; siblings Artlee, Robert, and Willie Ray. He leaves to cherish his precious memories: his lovely wife of almost 67 years Cassandra Jamison Brown; four loving children: Gregory Raynard Brown, Joseph Brown, III, Joyce Brown Boykin (Rinaldi), and Tamara Lizette Brown (Ronald); five grandchildren: Shanta Dumont (Lavel), Gregory Brown, Lance Brown, Brianna Boykin (Samuel), and Arielle Boykin; two treasured great grandchildren: Lavel and Lauren; one brother Roger Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will miss him dearly. He can truly say that he did it his way!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

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Services

Visitation

Jun

3

Alfred Street Baptist Church

301 S Alfred Street.
Alexandria, VA 22314

10:00 AM

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Funeral Service

Jun

3

Alfred Street Baptist Church

301 S Alfred Street.
Alexandria, VA 22314

11:00 AM

Get Directions