Funeral services for James Edgar "J. E." Brown, age 93, of Jacksonville, are scheduled for 2:00 pm Sunday, April 3, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville with Rev. Bill Smith of Dallas and Rev. Jack Albright of Jacksonville officiating. Burial will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park, Jacksonville. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville. Mr. Brown passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2011 in Dallas after a lengthy illness. He was a resident at Signature Pointe on the Lake nursing facility. He was born February 18, 1918 in Paris, TX, the oldest of four sons born to Cora and John Brown. After graduating from Paris High School and serving in the Navy during World War II, Mr. Brown moved to Jacksonville in 1949 as manager of the Chamber of Commerce. He married Mary Elba Holman of Jacksonville in 1953 and started J. E. Brown Insurance in 1961. He was very active in the community serving as Past President of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, Jacksonville Library Board, and the Jacksonville Animal Shelter. He was a director and advisory director of Austin Bank, served several terms as City Councilman, and was mayor in 1976 during the bicentennial. He was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and past master of the Jacksonville Masonic lodge. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville for over fifty years and was a long time member of the Wesley Bible Sunday School class. He served in many leadership roles in the church including being administrative board chair, lay leader, and a long time usher. He also served as Palestine Nacogdoches district lay leader of the United Methodist Church. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Mary Elba Brown, in 2002, parents John Edgar Brown and Cora Harris Brown, son-in-law Ben H. Admire, and brothers Harry L. Brown, Sr., Earl D. Brown, and Dan Moody Brown. Survivors include daughters Charlotte Brown Admire and Carolyn Brown Karabinos, both of Dallas; five grandchildren James, Kyle, and Mary Caroline Admire and Audra and Ingrid Karabinos, seven nieces and nephews, and several grand nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the Ribble and Love families, children of his lifelong friends. The family would like to thank the fourth floor staff of Signature Pointe on the Lake for their loving care and friendship to J.E. during the past two years. Pallbearers will be James Admire, Kyle Admire, Harry L. Brown, Jr., Lane Brown, Parker Allie, Richard Ribble, Joe Willoughby, Ronnie Lee, Kent Westbrook, and Richard Burton. Honorary pallbearers will be Walter Volz, Billy Guinn, Dr. Joe Cunningham, Wesley Bible Class of First United Methodist Church, Directors and staff at Austin Bank, Friends of the Jacksonville Library, and Coffee group friends.