Elston Vernon Brown (Baby Elt) was born on June 25, 1977 to Elaine Carolyn Brown who reared him with love until her passing in 1994 when Elston was only 17 years old. His Sister, Claudella Suggs, at the age of 24 yrs. old, stepped up as "Mom" and finished the job that their mom had begun. Elston grew up attending Full Gospel C.O.G.I.C. with his Grandmother, Clara Brown who taught him about the love of God. Elston graduated from Cahokia High School in 1995 and was never without a job or two or three. Elston worked as a chef at several restaurants and businesses and later pursued his love of cooking when he enrolled in LeCole's Culinary School. At the time of his passing, Elston was employed with Friendship Village Nursing Home.
Everybody who knew Elston knew him as a hardworking, respectful, compassionate, loving, dedicated, loyal, giving and self-sacrificing man. Claudella said that she didn't have a clue what she was doing when she became Elston's Sister/Mom, but with the help of God, he was not only a good son, but co-parent to his younger brothers, William and Armonte'. They were his practice sons for when he became a father and daddy to his own son, Emondre' Brown and his brother, Devonte Smith. And not only did he look out for them, but his cousins and anybody else who came around him. Anybody would have thought that Elston was a millionaire the way he was always handing someone a couple of dollars or buying "junk" from someone just to "help them out". Elston was referee, enforcer, and the final word because Claudella, William, Armonte' and even their older brother, Cortez, would ask, "Did you check with Elston? What did Elt say? Elt told me….." Elston said and showed this: "If you want it, work for it, and nobody can take it from you."
We're quick to tell our girls, "Wait for love, be with someone who respects you, you are worth the ring." Well, his sister, Claudella, said that to her brother, Elston. She said, "Don't settle, you are an awesome man, a good catch and because of all the good that you do, don't you know that you deserve good?" And as the only girl, Claudella's four brothers became her protectors, her cover, her few good men and "watchdog" critical over anyone she dated. And she wanted Elston and all of her brothers to know that she wanted the same for them. And in March 2014, Elston found a love that matched the love that he carried in his own heart and Ashley Holmes would become his "boo", the love of his life, his Fiancé' and the mother of his unborn son, Elston Vernon Brown Jr. and he became "Dad" to her daughter, Zaniyah.
Whatever Impression that Elston has made on, in or to your life, Please, Pass that on. I encourage you to step up and be a positive influence and mentor to someone else.
Elston was preceded in death by his mother, Elaine C. Brown, his grandparents, William and Clara Claudella Brown Suggs, One Aunt, Clara Yvonne Minniefield and Three Uncles, William Brown Jr., Terry Brown and Claude Elroy Suggs and One Aunt-In-Law, Diane Brown.
Elston leave to cherish his Sister/Mother, Claudella Suggs, His Fiancé', Ashley Holmes, his son, Emondre Brown, God-Son, Devonte Smith, and Step-daughter, Zaniyah Holmes. Three Brothers, Cortez (Audrey) Suggs, William (Shonetta) Brown, and Armonte' (Kiamante') Brown. Three Uncles, Wilbert Brown, Pastor Maurice (Lois) Brown, and Elston (Tera) Suggs. Three Aunts, Daisy (Howard) Nealy, Lorraine Suggs-Adams, and Antoinette (Reginald) Perkins. Two Aunt-in-Laws, Gloria Brown and Rita Brown. A God-Aunt, Felicia (Penny) Banks. One Great-Uncle, Addus Williams and One Great-Aunt, Ursula Jones, nieces, nephews, and a host of cousins who were as close to him as his siblings, and an even greater host of friends and co-workers.