Eleanor McCain Brown

Eleanor McCain Brown, originally of Birmingham, Alabama, and a longtime resident of Eufaula, Alabama, passed away peacefully at her home on November 29, 2025.

Eleanor met the love of her life, Ronald Brown, when she was just sixteen. They shared more than 67 years of marriage, building a life grounded in devotion, family, and faith. Together they raised four children and were blessed with ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A proud graduate of Vanderbilt University, Eleanor earned her Bachelor of Arts degree, graduating magna cum laude. She devoted more than 30 years to teaching Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, and Art at The Lakeside School. As a member of the founding faculty when the school opened in 1968, Eleanor shaped generations of students through her dedication, creativity, and steady encouragement. In recognition of her service and lasting impact, The Lakeside School recently dedicated the Eleanor Brown Outdoor Classroom in her honor. She retired in 1998, leaving an enduring legacy both in the classroom and in the hearts of her students.

Art was Eleanor’s lifelong passion. She was an accomplished painter who found joy and inspiration in the landscapes of Taos, New Mexico, where she traveled each year to paint the sweeping Southwestern vistas she loved so dearly. Through her art and her teaching, she inspired countless others to see beauty in the world around them.

Eleanor is survived by her husband, Dr. Ronald Brown Sr.; her children Dr. Ronald Brown Jr. (Susan), Catherine Cates (Dino), Mac Brown (Boo), and Susan Newman (Michael); and her grandchildren Adam Cates (Laura), Danielle Hays (Patrick), Trey Brown (Andrew), Will Brown, McCain Brown (Caroline), Mary Catherine Gardner (Lucien), Dr. Catherine Brown, Calloway Newman, Paul Brown (Caitlin), and Butler Newman (Madison). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Addie Jo Hayes, Wilson Hays, Callaway Cates, Eli Cates, Caroline Cates, Benjamin Gardner, Charlie Newman, Noah Brown, and Lydia Gardner.

Eleanor will be remembered for her grace, her boundless creativity, her love for teaching, and the deep affection she held for her family. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched, the students she inspired, and the art she leaves behind.

Services will be held at The First Baptist Church Eufaula on Wednesday December 3, 2025. Visitation will be at 1:00 pm and the service will be at 2:00 P.M., with Judge Henry L. Balkcom IV, officiating and Chapman Funeral Home directing.

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