A tribute to Roderick ‘Lion’ Brown’s spirited life.
By Hon. E.P. Chet Greene
Our St. Paul’s community is once again plunged into grief, but amidst the pains of death we offer profound gratitude for a life lived with unmistakable style, unwavering spirit and deep, abiding love. We remember, salute and celebrate Roderick ‘Lion’ Brown.
His story, as he would proudly recount, began not by the famed harbours or bequeathed inheritance but in the heart of the eastern village of Freetown with the most modest upbringing. It was from those roots that Lion cultivated the resilience and warmth that would define him. His journey led him to his darling wife, Joyce and to English Harbour, where he would truly blossom. There, he built everything: a home filled with love, a thriving leading car rental business built on his reputation as a consummate professional and a wide circle of friends who became family.
Lion was a man you could recognise from afar, always turned out with an impeccable elegance; his signature crisp linen shirt and shorts a testament to his quiet, steadfast pride. That pride burned brightest when it came to his beloved Antigua and Barbuda. He was a fierce defender of his home, its people and its potential. His was a patriotism that was felt, not just heard.
To know Lion was to know the heart of the man, which beat strongest for his family. His adopted daughter, Kaiser, was his absolute world. “A piece of land for Kaiser, an educational opportunity for her,” he would say, his eyes alight. She was his pet subject, his everything, his rock and his greatest project of love. I can only imagine the void she now faces, having to speak of her go-to idol in memory.
I also knew his strength. He faced his failing health and the rigours of weekly dialysis with a courage that humbled me. He never hid it; instead, he spoke highly of the Mount St. John’s Medical Center, turning his necessary trips into anecdotes of camaraderie. He spoke most admirably of the nurses and of the service. On any treatment day, once settled, he’d be back on his phone, tending to his business and making his authority felt. Such was his indomitable spirit.
His generosity, like the man himself, was quiet but immense. His philanthropy wove through the community, a silent thread of support that strengthened the very fabric of our St. Paul’s community and beyond. He gave not for recognition but from a genuine place of care.
Now, to his wife Joyce, a friend for over half a century and to all his family, especially Kaiser, on behalf of your expansive St. Paul’s family, I offer our collective arms to hold you, our collective love to surround you and our collective support to uphold you in this moment of seismic loss.
Lion’s life was a masterclass in living with purpose, dressing with pride, loving without limit and facing storms with a smile. We will miss his presence deeply but the echo of his spirit, resilient, generous and fiercely loving will resonate in English Harbour, in Freetown and across our nation, forever.
Rest well my friend. Your journey, though shorter than we would have liked was Impactful and was well-run. You’ve built an amazing, incredible and enduring legacy.