Jeanelle Layton Brown

Jeanelle Layton Brown, 84, of Canton, Georgia, passed away on May 9, 2024. She was born January 15, 1940, in Dublin, Georgia, to Marjorie McDaris Layton and William Carl Layton. Jeanelle was a caring leader, with a heart for service and education. She had the gift of encouraging others, and was known for her integrity, determination and dedication to God and family. Jeanelle graduated with a B.S. degree from Tift College in 1962, where she had the distinction of being Assistant to the College President. She earned a Master of Education degree from Georgia State University, an Education Specialist degree from Georgia Southern University, and a Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University. Jeanelle was passionate about her distinguished career in Education. She served as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. During the later part of her career, she was an Adjunct Professor at Kennesaw State University and Consultant to the Cobb County School System. While Principal at Mount Bethel Elementary, she received the honor of leading one of the top ten elementary schools in the metro Atlanta area two years in a row; forged a partnership with the Alliance Theater to expose students to the Arts; secured a Georgia Charter Planning Grant and Charter Status for the school; and was featured on the Nightly news with Peter Jennings. Her community and civic involvement included participating in Leadership Cobb, serving as the United Way Site Campaign Chair, and as the East Cobb Director of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, among many others. Her professional affiliations included serving as Treasurer of the Cobb County Association of Elementary Administrators, and as President of the Phi Delta Kappa, Kennesaw Mountain Chapter. She was an integral part of Roswell Presbyterian Church where she founded the church’s Canton Community Group, served as a Stephen Minister, was an active member of the Searcher’s Sunday School Class, and was most recently a member of the search committee to find the new Associate Pastor of Congregational Care. During her years at Big Canoe, she chaired many community committees, led Vacation Bible School, and was an active member of the chapel. She treasured the relationships she had with the women in the Leaf Turners book club, and her two bridge clubs. She enjoyed her large circle of friends and close family relationships. Jeanelle was the loving wife of her beloved husband, William Nicholas (Nick) Brown for 59 years. They spent many happy years traveling extensively. Jeanelle is survived by her daughters Elizabeth Layton Brown Massengill (David) and Emily Lindsey Brown Yale (Tom); grandchildren David Barrington Yale, Mitchell Allen Massengill and Marlee Elizabeth Massengill; sisters Janice Hall and Nancy Lundstrom; and many cherished extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Nicholas Brown; her mother, Marjorie McDaris Layton; her father, William Carl Layton; and her sister, Gayle Gallaher. A Memorial Service will be held at Roswell Presbyterian Church on Thursday, May 23, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow in the narthex. Interment will be in the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, Georgia 30075.

Tributes

Jeanelle Layton Brown

January 15, 1940 - May 9, 2024