Van Martin Brown

Mr. Van Martin Brown was born June 24, 1951 in Saginaw, MI, the eldest son of Luther and Marion Upshaw. His early years were spent growing up in Saginaw, MI with his younger brother, Keith, under the loving guidance of their parents who took them to church and taught them to love God. Van graduated from Buena Vista High School where he excelled in both basketball and football. His love for these sports continued into his adult life. He met his wife Berna shortly after she moved to Saginaw, MI from Chicago, IL and after an interesting courtship they were married on October 20, 1979. His new role as husband also included that of father and friend to her daughter, Tracey. Van was a dedicated employee of the General Motors Corporation, retiring in 2004 after 35 years of loyal service. He also served his country proudly for over 11 years as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserve and was an important part of Operation Desert Storm, processing soldiers as they prepared for and returned from deployment. Van professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 2001 and enjoyed attending Zion Missionary Baptist Church where he fellowshipped and gained spiritual strength and faith through hearing the Word of God. Van truly loved life and all that it had to offer. He enjoyed working out at the YMCA, swimming, playing basketball, reading, laughing, listening to music, playing chess, watching movies, and grilling up some of his delicious ribs with his special sauce. And if you could bake a good caramel cake from scratch then you were already on his list of Important People to Know! He especially looked forward to Super Bowl Sunday, the NBA playoffs, the Detroit Jazz Festival and the Bay City Pig Gig each year.
He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 31 years, Dr. Berna D. Brown, Saginaw, MI; one daughter, Tracey Roby, Grand Rapids, MI; three grandchildren, Jordan, Justin and Jaxxen Roby, Grand Rapids, MI; step-mother, Julia Brown, Atlanta, GA; two sisters, Priscilla and Marva Phillips, Atlanta, GA; four brothers, Keith Brown, Mark, Kevin and Kenny Phillips, Atlanta, GA; three sisters-in-law, Bernice Gordon, Youngstown, OH, Agatha Gaddis, Meridian, MS, Catherine Roby, Sallis, MS; two brothers-in-law, Eugene Roby, Saginaw, MI, Jimmy Dulaney, Gulfport, MS; one God son, Richard Greene, Saginaw, MI; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Marion Brown, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clarence and Nona Roby, one uncle, William Upshaw, one sister, Patricia Phillips, two nephews, Orlando Gordon and Antoine English , one niece, Donna Allen, four brothers-in-law, Vernal Roby, Rev. William Gordon, John Clarence Roby, and Rev. John Gaddis; three sisters-in-law, Edna Roby, Johnnie Marie Roby and Ernestine Dulaney.
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Visitation will start at 2:00pm-8:00pm on Friday, June 24, 2011
Funeral Service will start at 11:00am on Saturday, June 25, 2011
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