Toft Funeral Home and Crematory
2001 Columbus Ave
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-625-8816
Website: http://www.toftfh.com
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Jonathan David Brown- 65, after a lengthy illness battled like a warrior, gained his wings and entered the pearly gates of Heaven on Saturday, November 26, 2022. He was surrounded by his loving and supportive family.
Jonathan was born on Tuesday, December 4, 1956 to Pervis D. Brown, Sr. and Velma (Rollison) Pray.
He was born the youngest son out of 10 siblings. He graduated from Perkins High School, Class of 1975. Jonathan's love for pastoring was cultivated from his father, Pastor Pervis D. Brown, Sr, Founder and Pastor for the Church of Philadelphia. He moved to Nashville in the Spring of 1982 to attend the renowned seminary college - American Baptist College. While in attendance, he was under the tutelage of the late Pastor L.W. Johnson, of St. Luke A.M.E Church in Gallatin, TN. In 1983, he was ordained as an Elder in the A.M.E Church while in Warren, OH. Upon graduating from American Baptist College in 1984, Jonathan served as Assistant Pastor to Reverend Harry L. Wilson of the Greater Bethel A.M.E Church in Nashville, TN.
In November 1987, Jonathan was appointed Lead Pastor of his 1st church - Sweet Bethel A.M.E Church of Campbellsville, KY. He relocated to Dothan, AL in November of 1990, where he pastored at Mother Church of Alabama and Cherry Street A.M.E Church, both in Dothan, AL; St. Paul A.M.E Church in Brundidge, AL. Lastly, he served at St. Luke A.M.E Church in Eufaula, AL until Spring 2004. In May 2006, Jonathan decided it was time to return to his roots - The Church of Philadelphia, where he served faithfully as Pastor until his health began to fail. Along with pastoring his own church, Jonathan was a faithful servant ministering weekly in the Erie County Jailhouse Ministry, where formidable bonds with the men were made, lasting after their release.
Jonathan is survived in life by his wife, Lawana D.(Jones) Brown. His sisters: Mattie Owens and Patricia Brown, of Sandusky, OH; Gloria (Abraham) Brown-Wade; of Lansdowne, PA; Velma (Calvin) Brown-Lee, of Columbus, OH; Delores (Commodore) Burel, of Fremont, OH; and Amelia (Michael) Cleveland-Traylor, of San Antonio, TX. His brothers: Pervis (Sandra) Brown, Sr and Josiah (Renee) Brown, Sr, of Sandusky, OH. Step-Children: Adrian Jones and Amber Jones, Dothan, AL; Jeremy Jones, of Tennessee. Step-grandchildren: Adrianna Koonce, Jeremy Jones, and Jonathan Jones. Pastor Clayton Howard (Ebenezer Baptist Church), exceptional brother and friend. A host of nephews, nieces, cousins, church members, and friends.
Jonathan was preceded in death by his mother, Velma M. Pray (d.1998); father, Pervis D. Brown, Sr. (d.2006); sister, Iona M. Brown (d.1963); brother in law, Ervin Owens (d.2019); and step-son, Gregory Jones.
Family and Friends may call 11:00A.M. until time of funeral services at 1 P.M.on Friday, December 2, 2022,in Ebenezer Baptist Church, 1215 Pierce Street Sandusky, OH 44870. Reverend Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor will be the Officiant and Minister Delores Burel will be the Eulogist. Pastor Jonathan D. Brown will return to Dothan, AL for his final resting place. Toft Funeral Home & Crematory, 2001 Columbus Ave., Sandusky is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be made to the family by visiting toftfuneralhome.com.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord"
2 Corinthians 5:8
