Funeral services for Capt. Raymond R. Brown, officer of the famed Rainbow
Division during World War I, will be conducted by Rev. W. W. Glass of the First
Presbyterian Church at 3 o'clock today at Brown's Chapel. Capt, Brown died at
5:30 o'clock Saturday morning at the Morgan County Sanatorium where he had been
a patient during recent months. He was 63 years old. He was Captain of Decatur's
Company E, Alabama National Guard, which was sent to the Mexican border to help
quell the uprising there in 1916. Company E was part of the 167th Alabama
Infantry in the first World War. When war was declared, the company was
re-organized as the Rainbow Division with Brown holding the rank of first
lieutenant. Later he was promoted to captain and was commander of Company E. He
and the company were overseas 18 months, participating in the battles of
Champagne Marne, Aisne Marne, St. Mihiel, Muse Argonne and the Alsace Lorraine
sector. The company returned to this country in May, 1919, and the men were
discharged the next month. Capt. Brown was beloved by the men of his company and
was an outstanding here. While overseas, Capt. Brown was gassed and became ill.
He never fully recovered his health and was ill for about 24 years. He came to
Decatur 40 years ago from Pulaski, Tenn., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Beverly M.
Brown. Surviving are his wife and one son, William Brown. He was a member of the
First Presbyterian Church, an active and charter member of the American Legion,
and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The body will remain at the home,
201 Sixth Avenue West, until 11 o'clock today when the body will be taken to
Brown's Chapel. Members of the American Legion will serve as active and honorary
pallbearers and will be in charge of the service at the City Cemetery. An honor
guard of eight men of Company F., First Regiment, Alabama State Guard, will fire
a salute at the grave. Brown Funeral Company will direct. All Legion members
were asked to meet at the Legion Home at 2 o'clock today with caps.
