Larry “Wayne” Brown, age 51, of Pleasant View, Tennessee, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by his devoted and loving family.
A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted, with Randy Fuqua officiating, at 1 o’clock pm, Saturday, April 5th, at Austin & Bell Funeral Home in Pleasant View, with family and friends sharing special memories of Wayne.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, April 5th from 12:00PM until the hour of service beginning at 1:00PM.
Wayne was born on June 15, 1973, in Madison, Tennessee, to the late Larry Thomas Brown and Em Thi Nguyen Brown Tang. He attended White House High School and went on to build a remarkable career as a flooring installer-subcontractor, working tirelessly for 33 years. Wayne’s dedication to his craft was unmatched. From his very first job at 18, installing flooring at St. Thomas West, to returning 25 years later to install updated flooring. Wayne’s work left his “knee print” all across Nashville. It’s hard to find a building in the city that hasn’t been touched by his craftsmanship. But beyond his profession, Wayne cherished the relationships he built with his crew of installers, many of whom had been with him for up to two decades. He often joked that he only took off Thanksgiving and Christmas, proud of the dedication he poured into his work.
While Wayne’s work was important to him, his love for his family eclipsed everything else. He cherished every moment spent with his wife and daughters, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life: fishing, watching football, gun collecting, and enjoying a cozy night at home with a good home cooked meal, a movie, and a bowl of ice cream with his wife.
A football superfan at heart, Wayne was a devoted Steelers fan since the “age of five”, though he always cheered for the Titans too, with a special allegiance to Pittsburgh. He had an uncanny ability to predict plays, stats, and even penalties before they happened, demonstrating his unmatched knowledge and passion for the game.
But perhaps Wayne’s greatest joy came from helping others. He never sought recognition, yet he was always there for his friends, his family, or anyone in need. His kindness and generosity knew no bounds.
Wayne took immense pride in his daughters and their accomplishments. One of his proudest moments was walking his daughter, Olivia, down the aisle on October 5, 2024. He shared a deep bond with his daughter, Hannah, who shared his passion for fishing. They spent countless hours together on the water, with Hannah famously out-fishing both Wayne and his son-in-law, Ross, by just inches on Wayne’s 50th birthday during a deep-sea fishing trip.
Wayne is preceded in death by his father, Larry Thomas Brown; paternal grandparents, Willie Austin and Marie Elizabeth Brown; and his mother-in-law, Shirley Clayborn.
He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Christina Roddy; his beloved daughters, Olivia (Ross) Shearer and Hannah Roddy (Hadly D.K.); his father-in-law, Terry Clayborn; brother-in-law, Michael (Stacie) Clayborn; stepmother, Judith Brown; and brothers, Peter (Kelly) Tang, David Tang, Shane Brown, and Brian Brown.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the PODS and 5B nurses, techs, and team leaders at Saint Thomas West for their loving, compassionate care and support over the last several months. A special thank you also goes to Kate, Ali, Sammy, Mckenzie, and Lakita at Ascension Saint Thomas Rehabilitation Hospital.
Wayne will forever be remembered for his unwavering love for his family, his deep passion for his work, and his generous spirit that touched the hearts of everyone who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Wayne’s memory to the Glioblastoma Research Organization at https://fundraise.gbmresearch.org/TeamWB
AUSTIN & BELL FUNERAL HOME in Pleasant View is entrusted with the arrangements. 6316 Highway 41A, Pleasant View, Tennessee 37146 (615) 746-4433 www.austinandbell.com
This obituary was published by Austin & Bell Funeral Home.
This obituary was published by Obituaries provided free for the community.
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