Seymour O. Brown

Seymour Olivier Brown was born on May 23, 1941, to the late Philburn Brown (Mass Sill) and Mavis Brown (Aunt May) of Springfield, St. James. Seymour was a playful soul who loved having fun with others. Even as a child, he had a natural ability to befriend everyone, seamlessly transitioning from riding his bicycle with school friends to charming doctors, teachers, and police officers in the local community. Seymour's brilliance was evident early. At just thirteen years of age, he passed the 3rd Jamaica Local Examination, the highest academic level available at his local school. Seymour was too young to leave home for college, so he began teaching primary school at the age of fourteen. The headmaster recognized Seymour's exceptional abilities and enrolled him at nearby Cornwall College in Montego Bay for further studies. Despite the logistical challenges of making the trip down and up the mountain between home and Cornwall, Seymour consistently ranked at the top of his class. His academic prowess earned him the nickname "Sarge" among his peers. At eighteen, Seymour graduated from Cornwall and began working for the Jamaican government. In February 1961, he migrated to England to further his studies. His longer-term aspiration was to study medicine the next year at Howard University in the United States. Due to complications with his paperwork, Seymour was unable to attend Howard. He remained in England and obtained a degree (with honors) in chemical engineering from John Moores University College of Technology in Liverpool. It was in Liverpool that Seymour met the love of his life, Sheila (née Graham). They married on August 6, 1966. In 1970 Seymour returned to Jamaica with his new family and joined ALPART Bauxite Company, a plant affiliate of Kaiser Alumina and Chemical Corporation. During this time at ALPART, he rose to the position of Production Manager. Even with his busy professional life, Seymour made time to give back to his community. He volunteered twice a week to teach chemistry at Mandeville Teachers' College, where students adored his witty and engaging teaching style. He was also an avid cricket fan in those days, occasionally disappearing on Sundays to play a few innings. Rumor has it that he was a feared pace (fast) bowler. In 1982 Seymour joined another Kaiser affiliate plant, this time in Gramercy, Louisiana. Notably, from 1970 to 2000, Seymour held various positions with Kaiser in Jamaica and Louisiana. He progressed from Process Engineer to Technical Manager and ultimately attained the role of Plant Operation Manager when he returned temporarily to Jamaica in 2000. His professional contributions to the industry involved numerous technical and engineering innovations and best-in-class plant performance. He received worldwide recognition for his impressive list of published works, conference presentations, industry convenings, and overall thought leadership. Seymour and Sheila eventually settled in West Palm Beach, Florida, when he retired. Rather than slowing down, Seymour launched an international contracting and consulting business focused on the bauxite and alumina industry. As a consultant, he worked extensively in Jamaica, Russia, Canada, Australia, Romania, and Venezuela. Seymour lived his life with purpose, taking pride in every role he embraced: husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He was the ultimate protector and a steadfast provider, serving as a guiding light and a source of support. He was a passionate debater and an extraordinary storyteller. He became known for his legendary parties—where food, music, and a good laugh were never in short supply. Each event was not just a party but a celebration of joy and belonging, leaving lasting memories for everyone. Seymour sometimes took his family on long road trips to explore cultural sites and visit relatives and friends. These adventures played a significant role in shaping the children's perspectives on the importance of family bonding. Fittingly, although his children achieved many professional successes, Seymour was most proud of the parents they became. Seymour had an undeniable soft spot for his grandchildren. After retirement, he made a concerted effort to travel across the country to support them. They cherished his presence at their birthdays, graduations, weddings, sporting events, and other important milestones in their lives. Seymour was not just present; he was engaged, invested, and extremely proud. Seymour is survived by wife, Sheila, and his children: Garry (Regine), Anita (Phillip), Robert (Tracy), and Carl. He is survived by his beloved siblings: Egland, Kathleen (Phillip), Norma, Trevor, Paulet (George), and Dennis (Verna). Seymour was preceded in death by his sister, Gloria and their parents. He leaves behind a wonderful legacy of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who all adored him. Seymour's relationship with God began in childhood at Springfield Baptist Church. In his later years, he joined St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. He will always hold a special place in the hearts of his family and many dear friends. We will remember him for his incredible hospitality, kindness, courage, and sharp sense of humor. The memories we shared, filled with laughter and love, will be cherished deeply. His passion for life was truly inspiring, and we can honor his memory by embracing life fully, just as he did. Flowers may be sent to Palms West Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Christopher's Music Ministry via Zelle at stchristopherswpb@comcast.net. Please note: In memory of Seymour Brown.