Pharis Joe Brown

Pharis Joe “Sonny” Brown, 97, of Hosford passed away Thursday, July 13, 2023 at his home. Sonny was born February 2, 1926, the oldest son of Allison Monroe “Bud” and R.M. Chason Brown.

Sonny was a hard-working man who loved his family profoundly. At age 15, he left school during the Great Depression to saw logs full-time in order to help provide for his family. He later began working for the Florida State Road Department as a laborer until he was drafted in the United States Marine Corps from 1950-1952. His time in the service allowed him to finish his schooling under the GI Bill. He retired from the Florida Department of Transportation as a Road Superintendent after 38 years of dedicated service.

Sonny was a devout Christian who loved the Lord and had read the New Testament 92 times and the Old Testament 16 times. He served as a Deacon at Corinth Baptist Church for over 40 years.

Sonny, best known as Daddy, Grandaddy, or Uncle Sonny to those dearest to him, was devoted to his family and always made time for them. Any time spent with his family was precious to him, but he especially enjoyed the time shared outdoors, particularly running fox, deer hunting, fishing, gardening, and making cane syrup.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Black Brown, to whom he was married for 56 years; his parents, Bud and R.M. Chason Brown; an infant son and twin daughters, Susan and Sharon; a sister, Geraldine Sykes (Shiny); brothers, Sedrick Brown, Gardner Brown (Claire), Pete Brown (Opal), and Abner Brown.

Sonny is survived by his two brothers, Shelfer Brown and Lum Brown (Jannis); a sister-in-law, Edna Brown; four children, Jane Faurot (Alan), Harold Brown (Pam), Joy Griffith (Jerry), and Doyle Brown (Beth); thirteen grandchildren, Alana Faurot, Leah Hounshell (Ryan), Kristin Tadlock (John), Bobby Lee Bulzer (Victoria), Kevin Brown (Becky), Jerrod Griffith, Kara Chilcutt (Ryan), Sarah Faurot, Jimmy Brown (Shelbi), Ann Marie Brown, Malcolm Griffith, Mary Beth Brown, and Sara Catherine Brown; eight great-grandchildren, Caroline, Connor, Nathan, and Grant Hounshell, Grayson Bulzer, Caleb Tadlock, Ryan Brown, and Gracie Tadlock; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Telogia Baptist Church on Saturday, July 15, 2023, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00 a.m. EST. Burial will follow at the Brown Family Cemetery. Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences can be made at adamsfh.com 850-675-5449