Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY ROZELLA HARDIN
Editorial Director
rozella.hardin@elizabethton.com
Justus Brown was only 19 years old when he died on April 24. He was killed in a car accident near his Roan Mountain home.
Both Justus’ mother, Amber Brown, and his grandmother, Joyce Arnett, described Justus as a hard worker, who enjoyed farming and his chosen vocation as a welder.
Justus was valedictorian of his senior class at Cloudland High School and his mentor was Sam Potter, an instructor at the school. “He would go early to school just to have time to talk to Sam, who was an encourager and big help to Justus,” said Mrs. Arnett.
Justus’ mother shared that her son never liked to miss school and was very independent. However, he would help anyone.
The other mentor in his life was his Pa, Charles Arnett, who Justus claimed as his best friend. He had lived with his grandparents since he was about 14 years old. Justus had a natural love for animals and cared for goats, sheep, chickens and cattle on his grandfather’s farm. “He even had one old donkey,” said Mrs. Arnett.
“When he ran into something he didn’t know how to handle or deal with, he would say, ‘Pa, will you help me?’” shared his grandmother. “Pa was his role model, and work was his thing. Justus worked and saved his money to get what he wanted. He was not one to go in debt.”
In addition to farming, Justus worked as a welder with Worley at Tennessee Eastman. After he graduated from Cloudland High, he took welding classes at the Tennessee Area Vocational School at Elizabethton. Justus’ grandmother shared that he also enjoyed building things. “He helped his grandfather build a barn. I think he could do about anything he wanted to do,” Mrs. Arnett said.
She said her grandson had a lot of friends, and usually he would go out to eat with them on Saturday evening. At home he enjoyed chicken, mashed potatoes, and macaroni, but when he went out with his friends, he wanted a steak.
Both, Justus’ grandmother and mother, described him as a quiet person, who never sought the limelight. “He was a very caring person and pushed his siblings to work hard and do their best,” said his mother.
“Once his sister, Alicia, decided she, too, wanted to be a welder. Justus said, ‘I’ll be the welder, you be a mimi.’ They were best friends,” his mother said. In addition to Alicia, he had three other siblings, Robby, Bradden, and Kaitlynn Brown.
From an early age, Justus had a love for animals and farming. “It just came natural to him. He had two good mentors in my father and his teacher, Sam Potter. My dad taught him to be a man and to work. They were special to each other,” said Justus’ mother.
Sometimes it seems unfair that a young man like Justus Brown has to die so young. But, most would say Justus Brown, though his life was short, lived a full life and accomplished much. Also, he set an example for others to follow. He lived life to the fullest and gave it all that he had. He made a lot of people proud of his efforts.