Jennifer Ann Brown Burleigh

Jennifer Ann Brown Burleigh
Jennifer Ann Brown Burleigh, 76, of Orange, Texas, passed away on September 19, 2023, at Focused Care Nursing Facility in Orange, Texas.

A memorial service will be held beginning at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, September 24, 2023, at North Orange Baptist Church in Orange, Texas.

Born in Orange, Texas on December 28, 1946, Jennifer was the daughter of William Pate “Buster” Brown Jr. and Willie Pearl Thibodeaux. She spent her childhood attending Little Cypress School where she graduated a proud member of the class of 1965. As she grew older, she never missed a chance to catch up with her classmates who remained some of her dearest friends. In order to serve her community, Jennifer worked as a Dispatcher for the Orange Police Department. She looked forward to frequent lunches with her friends and former coworkers. Jennifer loved traveling and seeing what the United States has to offer. She enjoyed her involvement with the Hemphill Garden Club and was honored to serve as a past Commissioner for the Orange County Emergency Services District III. She also reveled at the chance to visit “Gabby” and her friend Pat as much as she was able. However, the most important thing in Jennifer’s life was the family she established with her husband Harold, to whom she was married for 58 years. Known as “Grandmama,” she enjoyed following her children and grandchildren wherever their activities brought them. She was known to cook her family members’ favorite meal to celebrate their birthdays and would follow up dinner by challenging them to a game of canasta. If Grandmama was not causing trouble, she always knew how to get her family out of it. She will be deeply missed but will always be remembered through the family legacy she left behind.

She is preceded in death by parents William Pate “Buster” Brown Jr. and Willie Pearl Thibodeaux, and nephew, Michael Brown.

Jennifer is survived by husband, Harold J. Burleigh; son, Scott Allen Burleigh and wife, Buffy; daughter Leigh-ann Trawhon and husband, Troy; grandchildren, Maegan Burleigh, Casey Burleigh and wife, Mackenzie, Claire Harvey and husband, Nicholas, Pate Arena and wife, Morgan, and Conner Trawhon; great-grandchildren, Paisley Angelle, Briggs Burleigh and Luna Harvey; brother, Pete Brown, sister, Mary Frazier, sister, Joan Plsek all of Orange, Texas, and brother William “BB” Brown III and wife, Kay of Onalaska, Texas; sister-in-law, Sheryl Nelson and husband, Pat, brother-in-law, Buddy Burleigh, step-sister-in-law, Kathy Robicheaux and husband, Andy, and step-sister-in-law, Diane Parrish; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Jennifer’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity or organization of your choice in Jennifer’s name. She had a passion for giving to veterans’ organizations and children’s hospitals.