Marcus Burl Brown

BROWN - MARCUS BURL

ROSE GROWER & ALLSTATE AGENT

Marcus Burl Brown, age 85, of Decatur, GA passed away on March 10, 2008.  Burl was born on May 19, 1922 in Alexander City, AL.  He was one of five sons of Marcus Herzfeld Brown and Lillian Odessa Haynes.  He was the father of three sons with his wife, Martha Laura Adams, who preceded him in death in 2001 after 53 years of marriage. Burl was renowned as a rose grower, having over 600 roses in his lavish garden on N. Superior Ave in Decatur.  He won local, regional, national and international recognition for the quality of his roses and served for many years as a member of the Greater Atlanta Rose Society, including one year as its president.  His garden was the subject of an extensive Better Homes and Garden magazine article in the spring of 1996 and in 2000 the American Rose Society featured his garden at their National Rose Show in Atlanta. Burl met Martha Laura Adams in Alexander City, AL, where she was a medical lab technician.  He attended the University of Alabama before entering the service, and she was a graduate of Auburn University.  They married on June 19, 1948 in her hometown of Camilla, GA and in 1952 moved to Decatur.  After Martha's death, Burl married longtime friend, neighbor and fellow church member, Bevelyn Hosch in 2002. During World War II, Burl spent 3 1/2 years in the Marines, fighting in the battles of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam and Okinawa.  He was among the first troops to go into Tokyo where they freed American prisoners of war and visited the room from which Tokyo Rose made her broadcasts. After military service, Burl worked several years in the furniture and appliance business, then sold RCA antenna systems to downtown hotels.  In 1958 he became an Allstate insurance agent, where he had the distinction of being the first agent in DeKalb Co.  Burl retired in 1992 after 34 successful years with Allstate. My father taught us the value of hard work, determination and persistence" said his son, Richard.  "He was a tough bird, a real Marine, but he also had a softer side that, among other things, revealed itself in the great pleasure he received from growing roses and sharing them with everyone." Along with his passion for growing roses, he loved quail hunting in south Georgia, bass fishing on Lake Martin in Alabama, playing golf at Druid Hills, researching family history and photographing family gatherings.  He also devoted over 20 years to the beautification of the church grounds at First Baptist Church of Decatur, where he served as a deacon, and was an active member for over 50 years. Burl is survived by three sons, Marc and wife Beverly of Sacramento, CA, Richard and wife Pam of Dunwoody, GA and Glen of Decatur. He also has three granddaughters, Laura B Cooksey and husband Kyle of Brentwood, TN, and Jessica Brown and Anna-Martha Brown of Sacramento, CA. Funeral Services will be held at 11 AM, Friday, March 14 at the First Baptist Church of Decatur.  The family will receive friends prior to the service in the church parlor from 9:30 AM until time for the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Baptist Church of Decatur, 308 Clairemont Rd, Decatur, GA 30030  A. S. Turner & Sons.