Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep,
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in
the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night,
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die.....

A Poem For The Grieving 
Author Unknown

Mary Catherine and family, the true measure of a person is how they served others, not the personal achievements. Browning's motivation was  always improving the lives of others. His devotion and love for his family was evident by the smile on his face when he spoke of the successes of Christine and Matt.  In the 22+ years that  I  worked with Browning, we always agreed when we spoke about our families.  You all all fortune to have been loved by a truly great man.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Earl and Pat Gehant

My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time.  I had the pleasure of working with Browning at JWB for that last 3 years and his countless contributions to the children of Pinellas County will be missed.

Dear Mary Catherine and Family,
Kathy and I extend our deepest sympathy and love to you at this difficult time.  We remember fondly the times we visited together.  Browney was a true colleague when I was at JWB with him in the 80s and we have kept in touch and occasionally worked together over the following years.  When one thinks of JWB one thinks of Brownie.  Brownie's keen ability to plan and advocate for children and families was combined with a sensitive and loving heart.  The good he has done for our community is incalcuable and continues.  His is a life to be  truly celebrated.  We will miss him greatly.
Will & Kathy Michaels

To Mary Catherine and Family
During the past 15 years or so that I knew Browning, he was ever the stalwart champion for children and families in Pinellas County, Florida, and beyond. May his rich legacy of a life of service and fond remembrance by all his co-workers, associates, collaborators, and friends bring you much comfort. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

In the 15 or more years that I knew Browning, he was always a stalwart  champion for children and families, not only in Pinellas County, but Florida, and beyond.  I was so saddened to learn of his passing this week.  May the rich legacy of his life of service and fond remembrance by all who worked with him comfort you, Mary Catherine.  My prayers go out to you and to your whole family.

Aunt Mary and family.

I don't even know how to begin.  I will remember Brownie always happy and smiling.  Wish I was there to give you a big hug.  Know that my thoughts, prayers, and love are with you all.  Brownie will be missed but held in our hearts and memories forever.

Denise Garner

Browning was a true asset and champion for the children of Pinellas County.  His wisdom will be missed, but will always remain as an inspiration to those who worked with him.

To Mary Catherine and family. I consider Browning to be Mr. JWB - I was hired by Browning ten years ago to be his Secretary - I worked with him for 8 years until he became JWB's Deputy Director. One of the best decisions I have ever made was when Browning asked me to be his secretary. I am so thankful to him for that. I enjoyed working with Browning over those years and it was great that he enabled me "to agree to disagee" with him over our rating system which included "good solid job" - He took my mentioning it often in the good-hearted spirit with which it was given. So many people in our community will definitely feel his loss to them for he truly was Mr. JWB.

Alan and I send our sincere condolences to all of Brownie's family. It's been many years since we've seen you, but you're all in our thoughts and prayers. May your love for and faith in each other provide some solace during this sad time.

Browning always had a kind word and a sweet smile for everyone - and he always rememberd your name, even if he met you just once.  Our community is better off, especially our children, because he was here.  My prayers go to his family in this difficult time.

Dear Mary Catherine and Family:
I wish you peace and strength during this difficult time. I worked for and with Brownie for many years. I respected him very much for his keen intellect and commitment to the children and families of Pinellas County. He has touched many lives locally; and, so many families have benefitted from his hard work. His impact was also felt at the regional and national levels with the National Association of Planning Councils and the Community Indicators Consortium. The many people who worked with Brownie, at all levels, will miss him dearly. God Bless.

Browning was my boss, my colleague and my friend back in the days of the old JWB, down the street from the Biff Burger. As an inspiration to us all, his memory will still remind us to continue his good works.  Our sympathy and condolences to you and your family

Browning was my boss, my colleague and my friend back in the days of the old JWB, down the street from the Biff Burger. As an inspiration to us all his memory will still inspire us to continue his good works.  My sympathy and condolences to you and your family

I had the privilege of learning from Brownie while I was his counterpart at the Childrens Trust in Miami in the early 2000s.  He was unfailingly wise, always answered my many questions, and taught me so much.  I'll miss him.

How  lucky we have been in the Child Care Community in Pinellas County to have a friend like Browning.  He leaves us with a wonderful legacy and will be missed by all who knew and loved him.  My thoughts and prayers are with you all.   Judy Scott, St Petersburg, FL

Brownie was a caring man who will be missed by many.  I consider myself very fortunate to have known and worked with him.  My sentiments go out to the entire Spence family.

Mrs. Spence and family, I will miss as I called him MRS. Spence Husband, he was a great friend and mentor to me as well as Mary. he loved his family and the children that were serviced by JWB. we would talk about the Chocolate Nutcracker every time we would see each other. I know that he will be watching and Blessing us from above, and tapping us on the shoulder when we need it.
God Bless and prayers be with you.

Browning was very caring and committed to the mission of helping children and families. May he rest in peace.

I was so sad to hear the news about Browning.  I worked with Browning for several years at JWB and even though I moved on some time ago, I still have so many wonderful memories of time with him, the work he did for the children of Pinellas County and his gentle way of allowing voices to be heard. He will be missed.

Mary Catherine and Family, Browning will truly be missed here at JWB.  I learned a lot from him over the years and he always challenged staff with new ways of thinking through projects or processes.  Not only that, he was just a nice guy!  Our thoughts and prayers are with you and may your memories provide comfort.  God Bless, Pam Needham

I have known/worked with Brownie since 1987, while I was the VP of Planning and Allocations with the United Way of Pinellas County.  He was a consummate planner, consistently advocating for systemic changes to improve the lives of children and families.  His gentle manner, knowledge/wisdom, and practicality was effective in meeting the many challenges as an agent of change.  He will be greatly missed. Doug Oakes (St. Petersburg, Florida)

Every time I sat with Browning to talk about the circumstances of our county and about potential joint projects and collaborations - every single time - we always ended our talk with extended conversation about our families and children. He loved and treasured his wife, children and grandchildren more than anything. This, even more than his prolific and inspirational professional work, is what truly mattered to him and was testimony to who he was. In this, he will remain with all of us in heart and spirit.

Brownie's diverse background and caring spirit allowed him to bring a great deal of wisdom to his work. He was generous with his time and intellect, and I recall many lively debates about ideas, programs, and approaches to creating the most valuable opportunities for families. The excitement with which he approached new ideas, and the care he took to understand the research and data before embracing them, made us all think deeply through the issues at hand. I appreciated his tolerant and kind supervision, the opportunities he provided me to grow on the job, the fun he had in telling stories, the touching pride he had in his lovely family, and most of all, his spirit of generosity. Truly, a light has gone out in our lives.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of Browning's family and friends.  It was an honor to know and work with Browning over the last 18 years.  His passion for our community and his never ending dedication to the well being of children and families will never be forgotten......Micki Thompson, Executive Director, 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares, Inc.

I have had the honor to work for/and with Browning for 19 years. I know his heart and soul were dedicated to improving the lives of families in PInellas County. He was passionate about his work, yet compassionate to the less fortunate. He was gentle in his communication, yet strong of will. 
He will be missed as both a mentor  and a friend. God Bless.

I met Brownie in 1986 when we both joined the JWB staff. He had a great sense of humor and a showed limitless compassion and respect. His love for his work was only surpassed by his devotion to his wife and children. My thoughts are with the family - may the memories you created sustain you now and in the years to come.

What a loss for Pinellas County and our foster children there!  Browning was a true class act who always had the best of children in mind.  We trusted and admired him.  He will be very sorely missed and we send our thoughts to his family and friends.  Nick Cox, Regional Director, Department of Children and Families

I haven't lived in Pinellas County since 2006 and was so sorry to hear the news.  I worked with Browning for about 7 years on various projects - he was always the ultimate professional - the community is losing a committed and dedicated man.  My prayers go out to his family.

I worked for Brownie for 7 years he was a kind and patient man, he put his whole heart into this family and the community.  This is truly a loss and he will be missed.  Gail Edman

I knew Browningprofessionally  for over twenty years.  If Browning attended a meeting, one could count on his always graceful and balanced perspective. I will always remember our last meeting and his big welcoming bear-hug that put me so at ease.

My sincere condolences to those he leaves behind.  He was so special.

What a wonderful advocate he has been for the children and families of Pinellas County.  He will be sorely missed.  I enjoyed working with him temendously the last 17 years, it won't ever be the same!  God Bless.

Dear Mary Catherine and family,

Browning was a wonderful man, one that I will never forget. He was my supervisior at JWB for many years. I will always remember his commitment to children and families, especially his own. Over the years, whenever I saw him he always asked about my daughter, Lauren and then we updated one another on our children and for Browning, grandchildren. He so loved you all. I know that the memories you have createdt together will comfort you during this time and in years to come. Hugs to you all, Mary Ann Goodrich

To Mary Catherine and family of Browning!  It was indeed an honor to spend over 20 years working with Browning - he leaves a wonderful legacy of meaningful  work for us to see - feel - and touch everyday.  He was a very gentle - thoughful and caring person who embodied the very spirit of what the founding organizers of JWB intended. He very much loved each of you and he also had the scope of a caring heart to incorporate the rest of us into his world. I will think of him and celebrate all that he brought to us each and everyday.  May each of you walk gently through this world and know the beauty of his life each and everyday.  Let us all conspire to smile and play some music in celebration of a life lived well

OBITUARY

Horace Browning "Brownie" Spence Jr.

June 12, 1946 – November 27, 2010

Serenity Funeral Home & Serenity Gardens Memorial Park

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