Stephen Alvin Brown

Stephen (Steve) Alvin Brown, 73, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at St. Thomas Hospital, with his wife by his side. He was born on April 11, 1953, to the late Aaron Burr Brown, Jr. and his mother, Ruth Dale (Goldsby). He is survived by his wife, Debbie Lamar Brown, his son Benjamin (Ben) Lamar Brown, son Elliott Goldsby Brown and his wife, Taylor; grandchildren–Oliver Stephen Brown, Robinson Goldsby Brown, Millie Ruth Brown, Davies Ann Brown, Mary Lennon Brown, and Thomas Brooks Brown–and brothers Aaron Burr Brown (Gayle), Lawrence Goldsby Brown (Anne), Mark McCurdy Brown (Elissa), Dale Jennings Brown (Amy), as well as a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Steve considered himself extremely blessed to have all of his family live in and around the Nashville area.

A native Nashvillian, Steve grew up in East Nashville and attended public schools through his junior high years, often working in his family’s drug store, J.P. Brown Drugs. His family moved across the river in 1967 where he attended Montgomery Bell Academy for high school. With five boys born within a ten-year span, his home was lively, loud and full of mischief but also filled with laughter and love.

Steve attended Vanderbilt University, where he met Debbie. They married immediately after graduation in 1975, and both went to work in the Metro Nashville Public School system. A guidance counselor at Hillwood High School, Steve worked tirelessly to guide students through their high school years—helping them to navigate coursework, graduation requirements, post-graduation options, and problems at home.

After school, he donned his coaching clothes, whistle and stopwatch, becoming Coach Brown for football, track, and cross country. As head coach for cross country and girls’ track, he led his teams to many victories and State championship meets, earning multiple Regional Coach of the Year awards in the 1990’s. Devoted to his athletes, he went above and beyond to support them, from selling candy in the school hallways to fund their athletic needs to driving the activity bus to transport athletes who would have been unable to participate without it.

Many of his athletes stayed in contact with him after his retirement in 2006, always expressing appreciation for his support. After retirement, Steve worked part-time for several years as a counselor at various MNPS high schools. In all, he dedicated more than 40 years to public education. He was loved and respected by the staff, students, athletes and their parents.

Steve was an amazing father and husband. He cherished his two sons and cheered through all their sports, academic and musical activities. He valued experiences more than material things and treated his sons to numerous “bucket list” events at a young age, including seeing Michael Jordan in Chicago, a World Series game, and the Rolling Stones, just to name a few.

He also loved travel and was determined to get his family and Memama (his mother) to the 48 continental United States. He carefully planned hour by hour itineraries for summer road trips to see major cities, historical monuments, and National Parks. Despite long days in the car and short rest stops, many great memories were made on his trips.

At home, he could fix almost anything—restoring their first home, building decks at their second and increasing its livability, not only for his family, but most generously for his in-laws, who spent their last years residing there. He also tackled many projects big and small with his four brothers, proudly proclaiming that “Brown Brothers Construction Company” was always ready come to the rescue.

Besides his family and public education, Steve was passionate about many things—nature (especially birds), helping those in need, politics, the space program and a belief in extraterrestrial life. He sometimes boisterously expressed his opinions, many times ending with a sly smile and his favorite phrase “it’s my opinion and it ought to be yours”. He was an ardent Vandy and Titans fan and enjoyed tailgate parties and football games, even when the outcomes did not meet expectations.

Recently, mobility issues made it difficult for him to do many things he enjoyed—traveling, golf, attending sports events and concerts. However, he was grateful for the opportunity to watch his sons become great fathers to his 6 grandchildren and for them to become so much a part of his and Debbie’s life. “Granddaddy”, a.k.a. Great Sleeping Bear as some called him, generated groans from his lame jokes and giggles from his tickles. He was proud of each grandchild, and just a month ago experienced the joy of watching his oldest grandson earn two first place medals in the middle school State championship track meet.

Steve and Debbie shared 51 years of marriage together, loving and supporting each other through life’s triumphs and tragedies. He was beloved by his family and friends and will be deeply missed. A Celebration of Steve’s life will take place Sunday, July 26, from 3-6 p.m. at a private residence.

Charitable donations in his honor can be made to the Nashville Community Connections, Sports Equity Fund at the following link: https://nashvillecommunityconnections.org/sports-equity-fund/.