James Wayne Brown

James Wayne Brown, dearly loved brother, uncle, cousin and friend passed away August 27, 2025, in Cleburne Texas.

He was born in Dallas, Texas on February 24, 1963, and grew up in the White Rock Lake area. James moved to Stephenville, Texas in the 1980s before settling in Cleburne, Texas.

As a child, James was chosen to be the public face of a Down Syndrome awareness champaign.

In 1982, he graduated from H. Grady Spruce High School where his mother was the school counsellor and ahead of her time advocating for people with intellectual differences. In high school, he was a member of the boy scouts and J.R.O.T.C.

Throughout the years James was a gifted athlete in the Special Olympics. He exceled in swimming and qualified for the State Special Olympics. James won many medals in swimming, bowling, track, basketball, and shot put. He also played soccer for the East Dallas Soccer Association team Bullets for many years.

James loved the Dallas Cowboys especially #41 Charlie Waters until the Cowboys fired Tom Laundry, then he would never support the Cowboys again.

He loved attending the annual Brown Family reunion in Quitman, Texas and travelling throughout the United States visiting with friends on both sides of his family.

James never met a stranger and once he knew your name, you were his friend. He will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure to know him.

James is preceded in death by his mother Betty Maude Higgins Brown, father, Virgil Alvin (V.A) Brown, stepmother Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Drew Brown, and close family friends Velma Murphy and Carol Lee Pennington.

He is survived by his sister Barbara Brown Knuth, brother-in-law Rene Knuth and niece Monamolin Elsa Knuth of Co. Wexford, Ireland, first cousin Timothy Wayne Mathis and his wife Julie of Edmond, Oklahoma. Joining the family in mourning are James’s long standing sweetheart Donna Roznosky of Cleburne, close friend Larry Pennington of Rowlett and numerous friends, caretakers and cousins.

A Memorial Service will be held at Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne, Texas on Saturday, September 6th, 2025 at 11:00 am. Please come brightly dressed and all are encouraged to share stories of James’ life.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Special Olympics.