Mark Douglas Browne

Mark Douglass Browne Jr. gave his final direction on May 19, 2022. Though he was unable to speak, he likely told God that it was time for him to go North (we know he gave the cardinal directions) into the clouds. He was a pragmatic man to the very end with some of his last instructions being to purchase flowers for his wife, Patricia Browne, take care of the lawn for her, and to ensure that all his bills were paid because he simply would not allow his nearly perfect credit score to drop.  Mark modeled endurance, perseverance, and pure grit in every challenge to the very end.  He always pushed forward and did not allow challenges to change him or define who he was.

Mark Browne Jr. or Junior as he was called by his father (when he was in trouble) was born on October 1, 1953. His responsible behavior and frugal habits would have you believe that he was the eldest of his three siblings, but he was the middle child to his older brother Burke and his younger sister Alison. He would always take care of his siblings, whether that meant picking up his sister from school or just keeping his brother out of trouble. He was always there for whatever they needed.  He was educated in the DC Public School system and later graduated from Howard University and completed a certificate in financial accounting from the Wharton School.

In his youth, Mark was known for getting into the oddest situations with his friends and siblings. If you were to hear all the tales of his youth such as going to parties, taking someone’s spark plugs to win a drag race, or leaving his friends on a Tilt-a-Whirl for 30 minutes you might not recognize his responsible, adult self. He always had epic adventures that would leave anyone who heard about them in fits of laughter. Mark always will be, as Nat King Cole famously sang, “Unforgettable, in every way.”

At Allstate, Mark was a leader, mentor, teacher, big brother, friend, and so much more. Friends and colleagues alike described him as patient, measured and always there to give sound advice about work, life, investing or whatever you needed to know. The Lanham Crew, as he affectionately called them, is family and he was always there to support and laugh with them.   He touched the lives of many and was just very special!   He truly found joy in lifting and supporting others.  Mark was a man who spoke with his actions rather than words.

Mark met the love of his life, Patricia Brown, amongst the Lanham Crew. The two started as the best of friends and he often joked about the series of losers that she dated before him so she could “save the best for last.” In March 1990, the two “vow(ed) to be one” beginning a marriage for the ages. It was clear that these two were soulmates because when they got married Patricia only needed to add an E for her new last name. The two were “inseparable in every way.”  In January of 1992, their happy union produced their only child Troy.

Mark was an amazing father who taught his son the importance of saving for a rainy day and his most often-used piece of advice to “think about what you’re doing.” The two had a unique bond that ranged from sharing running shoes to competing over who was the best at saving money.  Mark and Troy would always find their way to the “man cave” whenever Troy would come home to visit. 

Mark was truly a one-of-a-kind man. If you asked for directions, he could tell you every route number and street number on the way, often, without looking at a map. Like his father, Mark was an avid golfer and loved music of every genre. He would often spend Saturdays watching Westerns and the History Channel, accumulating an incredible body of knowledge. More often than not, he could answer the Final Jeopardy question without the use of Google. Mark was a humble man ⎯ and his humility enabled him to always lend a hand to those in need. Under the façade of a “regular guy” Mark possessed a wealth of knowledge about people and the world around us.  Mark was a loving husband, father, brother, cousin, and uncle to his family. Mark was a loyal friend, an exemplary co-worker, and a great neighbor.

Mark leaves to mourn a loving and devoted wife, Patricia; a proud and adoring son Troy; a faithful sister, Alison Parks; one nephew, James Parks, IV, (Jennifer); cousins Tracy Bledsoe; Scott Nicholas; Lauren Bledsoe-Harris, (Eugene); an adorable cousin, Emmerson; and a host of relatives and friends.  In heaven, Mark has joined his parents Mark, Sr. and Doris Browne and his brother Burke.

“There is no leaving when a soul is blended with one another.”   We will not learn to live without you, we will simply cherish   the moments, knowing you are there!  Until we meet again…

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