The dash (-) between the date of one's birth and the date of one's death that appears on a headstone represents how a person lived his life and ultimately, how he will be remembered. For Mr. Grover Lee Brown, Sr., that dash represents love, compassion, passion fortitude and in sum, a life well lived.

On September 7, 1956, in Gilbert, Louisiana, the marital union of the late Bris and Catherine Moore Brown was blessed with the birth of Grover Lee, the fifth of their eleven children.

Reared in a Christian home, Grover accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age and united with the New Macedonia Baptist Church. He spent the last 24 years of his life as a resident of Grambling, Louisiana and, in keeping with the tenants of the Baptist Church Covenant, he worshiped regularly at Zion Traveler Baptist Church in Ruston.

After graduating from Gilbert High School in 1974, he enrolled at Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe (now the University of Louisiana at Monroe) and later, Grambling State University in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in broadcasting. In 1975 while attending Grambling, Grover pledged Alpha Phi Omega, the largest collegiate fraternity in America. He would later serve as an advisor for both the university's undergraduate and graduate chapters and also in the prestigious role of Chair of Section 45.

It was also at GSU that Grover met and, on June 18, 1983, married Ruth Raymond. To that union, two children were born: daughter Amanda, who died at birth on June 15, 1984; and Grover, Jr. He also has an older daughter, Ebony, from an earlier relationship.

After graduating from GSU in 1980, Grover began his professional career in television production as a cameraman with KTVE Television Station in Monroe. He was promoted to program director, the position he held until 1991, when he left to take a position as assistant director of the Grambling State University Television Center. Renal failure resulted in his having to receive dialysis; and resultantly, in 1993, he retired as director of the Grambling State University Television Center.

Those who knew Grover can attest to the love he had for others. Always willing to help another person, he would give the proverbial shirt off of his back to anyone asking for it. He loved much and he loved deeply. Whether it was spending time with an ailing loved one or going above and beyond to help a student master a skill in television production, he was ever present and always willing. His compassion motivated him to meet the needs of others as best he could. He was a true humanitarian and a good-humored and even tempered person.

His passion for cooking was well known and he often volunteered to provide his culinary talents for weddings, parties, gatherings and his favorite, tailgating. But most importantly he provided meals for anyone in need. There weren't many dishes that he could not make; and even if it was a dish with which he was not familiar, he had an uncanny knack for recreating it after sampling it only once. Glover also enjoyed gardening, flower arranging, fishing and spending time with family and friends.

Even as a dialysis patient, he gained the respect and attention of his peers and the medical staff. To this end, he served as the North Louisiana Kidney Foundation.

On Sunday, November 23, 2014, tragically, Grover transitioned from mortality to immortality.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, a sister, Brenda Cameron, daughter Amanda and nephew Walter Cameron. He leaves to cherish his memory: son Grover, Jr. of Haughton, Louisiana, daughter Ebony (Vintrious) Black of Canton, Mississippi; great nephew/godson Isaac Moore, three sisters – Katherine Brown Smith of Monroe, Rosa (Amos) Virgil of Monroe, and Audrey (Terrance) Livingston of Suffolk, Virginia; five brothers – Charlie Moore of Monroe, Willie Brown of Gilbert, Henry Brown of Monroe, Billy Brown of Gilbert and Aubrey Brown of Gilbert; and a host of other relatives and friends.