James Elwood Brown, 85 of Franklin Furnace, died Monday, March 30, 2015 at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth. He was born in Franklin Furnace on May 7, 1929, the son of the late Elwood Brown and Rozena (Delbert "Frosty") Otworth Hale. James was also preceded in death by his grandparents who raised him, Charles and Winifred Otworth. He was a proud member of the Laborer's Local 83.

James is survived by his wife, Joy Nelson Wilson-Brown, who he married on July 17, 1999 on their farm in Franklin Furnace; 3 daughters, Deborah (Ken) Oliver of Frisco, TX, Rozena (Chris) Davis of Columbus, OH, and Brew (Scott) Battles of Sciotodale, OH; and a close niece of Joy's, Rita Ruby of Chicago, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2015 at the Swick-Bussa-Chamberlin Funeral Home in Wheelersburg, with Pastor Ronnie Blevins officiating. Interment will be in Junior Furnace Cemetery in Franklin Furnace. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday and one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.swickbussachamberlin.com.