BROWN, GRADY REX, PVT, 307 Eng. 82nd Division, born 14 March 1896, at Cane Creek. Died 29 April 1940, buried at Whitehead Cemetery, Topsy, Wayne County, Tennessee. Inducted at Waynesboro. Father was Ike T. BROWN, b. 20 Dec 1862, d. 28 Jan 1933. Mother was Mollie, b. 12 Aug 1873, d. 25 July 1935. Both are buried in Bastin Cemetery located on N.E. side of Cane Creek Road on Bashie TALLEY property in Lewis County.

Had sister, Florence BROWN, b. 20 Nov 1901, who married Van RASBURY. Brothers: James Russell BROWN, b. 10 June 1893, d. 20 Feb 1949; C. Raymond BROWN, b. 24 Feb 1904, d. 5 March 1953. Both brothers are buried at Whitehead Cemetery, Topsy, Wayne Co., TN.

Grady Rex BROWN married Eslie WARREN in 1924. She was born 11 Nov 1895 and died 28 Nov 1956. Elsie was a school teacher. They did not have any children.

“On the eve of Induction Day, Ransom and Rosie LAFFERTY GRAVES assited by her parents, the William LAFFERTY family, entertained with a buffet supper at their home on the site where the Church of Christ now stands. After supper, the crowd from the Topsy Community gathered at the Topsy School building for a “farewell” party.

Raleigh PEYTON who married Ruth BROWN, Grady’s cousin, spoke for the community with tribute to the Topsy boys who would leave the next morning. Will MATHIS and “Sugar Boy” WHITEHEAD were among the “would-be” Army boys.

This was related by Grady’s sister, Florence BROWN RASBURY as she lay seriously ill in Regional Hospital, Columbia, Maury Co., TN on 30 October 1990.

Grady moved with this father, Ike, brothers and sisters from Cane Creek to the Myles EDWARDS farm at Topsy early in life. Later they moved to the Lewis D. WHITEHEAD farm in Topsy and continued to farm. They then operated the Brown Brothers Store and Grady was in charge of the ‘Peddling Route” throughout Wayne County.