Obituary

When Anthony L. Brown Jr. walked into the room, those in his company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Lil Tony/Tone was and how he impacted those around him. Lil Tony/Tone was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Lil Tony/Tone wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Lil Tony/Tone was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve him well throughout his life.

      Lil Tony/Tone was born on October 17, 1990 at Micheal Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Anthony and Louise Brown Sr. Lil Tony/Tone was raised in Chicago, Illinois. Always at the ready with a good joke, he grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Lil Tony/Tone might describe him as an idealist, his friends and family understood well that Lil Tony/Tone was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to him.

      Lil Tony/Tone was raised with One sibling. Antonique L. Brown. Lil Tony/Tone was very accepting and supportive of his family. He was perceived as the central person in his family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Lil Tony/Tone was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Lil Tony/Tone well in his adult life and, along with his wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew him.

      As a young boy, Lil Tony/Tone was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew him into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Lil Tony/Tone was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with his peers. He was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. Lil Tony/Tone took part in basketball,baseball,skating,karate. In his spare time he liked drawing and rapping. Lil Tony/Tone's memorable achievements included. Lil Tony/Tone had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity he and the many childhood friends he shared might discover.

      During his high school years, Lil Tony/Tone responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. He graduated from George Washington High School in 2009. Lil Tony/Tone was a very good student, and generally did well in his courses. Lil Tony/Tone absorbed as much as he could from all of his teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using his imagination to master his assignments. For Lil Tony/Tone, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to his ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Lil Tony/Tone a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to him to discuss just about anything. His favorite class in high school was English. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mr. Kelsey.

      With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought him an endless stream of friends, Lil Tony/Tone was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Lil Tony/Tone was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. He always seemed aware of what was going on with people around him and throughout his life he made many, friends. While growing up, some of his best friends were Devin Chavers,Lorenzo Eggleston, Steven Hayes, John Jones,Derrick Baltimore. Later in life, he became friends with Dantanya Convington his high school sweet heart and mother of his two children,Cortez Jackson,Darrian Clinkscales,and Gino Bryant.

      Lil Tony/Tone was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide his family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Lil Tony/Tone, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of his life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Brown home. Lil Tony/Tone's skill at understanding his children's feelings, his sensitivity to their needs, and his gift for gentle persuasion enabled him to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Lil Tony/Tone was blessed with Two children: Two sons, TayVon and TayShawn.

      Because Lil Tony/Tone loved to have a broad variety of activities in his life, he took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. His favorite pursuits were basketball, skating, writing and rapping. Lil Tony/Tone had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all of his favorite pastimes. However, Lil Tony/Tone's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.

      Lil Tony/Tone derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. His charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, Lil Tony/Tone played basketball. Recreational sports included basketball. Lil Tony/Tone was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were basketball and football.

      Because Lil Tony/Tone was constantly in the center of things and where the action was, he always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. Lil Tony/Tone's gift of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made him a great asset. Lil Tony/Tone found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable. Politically, Lil Tony/Tone was a democrat, the first time he was able to vote was in 2008 and he voted for President Barak Obama.

      Lil Tony/Tone was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. He was a member of the Salem Baptist Church Of Chicago for 14 years. During that time, he was armor bearer to children pastor, actively in involved in the church when he was a youth, as a young adult worked on the parking ministry. He was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and he used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for his beliefs.

      There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Lil Tony/Tone. He was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. He had a knack for being clever, creative and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While he was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Lil Tony/Tone Brown for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Lil Tony/Tone was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with his loved ones.

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Anthony's arrival into this life on October 17,1990 was a day of joy for his entire family, especially for his parents, Anthony L. and Louise Brown,Sr. He was their first born, a vision of great expectation and hope, much loved, the beginning of their little family's journey.

Anthony attended Salem Baptist Church of Chicago with his family. During his preschool years he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, joining the family of God in children's church where he matured spiritually and served as the Children's Pastor Armor Bearer, providing prayer support,refreshment, and maintaining the ministers teaching material. Most recently, Anthony served on the parking ministry using his gift of helps to direct traffic flow and provide security. Sometimes teased among his peers for doing so, Anthony was known to call on the Lord openly and blessed his food declaring "That's what I was trained to do. That's what I know.'

Anthony's early childhood was spent at Many Generations Nursery and Preschool where he and his younger sister, Antonique, aided by his outgoing personality and fun loving spirit, forged many lifelong friendships and extended family. Anthony attended Gompers Elementary graduating in 2005 moving forward to attend Washington High School, and securing a High School Equivalency Certificate from the Illinois Community College Board in April 2010.

Anthony was employed by World Wide Transportation as a transport driver and spent his summers volunteering with the program "After School Matters" constructing green houses, planting and cultivating fruits and vegetables.

Like most young people, Anthony had a zest for life. His classmates describe him as "Always the life of the party," Strong in mind and will," having a "Never give up spirit," "Inspiring and encouraging everyone to go for their hearts desire," and A person who had a great heart, loving and ready to forgive!" Anthony had a uncommon ability to recognize and nuture the good in everyone and in every situation he experienced. Willing to step back to allow others around him to SHINE! A fiercely loyal and protective friend, brother, and father.

Handsome but humble "Little Tony" was what the family called him because he was the exact look a like of his closest confidant, his hero, his Dad.

Anthony and his Grandfather were best friends. His Grandad, a teacher and coach by profession, sparked and inspired his love for sports, basketball in particular, which he pursued throughout his high school years. Even though he was rapidly growing into a man, his Grandad offered Anthony many tips on the game and on life calling his beloved grandson "Kid."

Anthony's interests were varied and included composing lyrics, rapping, and video production which, in recent days, proved to be his passion. He had a contagious smile and zest for all that seemed impossible. A young man of many passions, living a brief and full life, leaving us much too soon missed by all never to be forgotten.........

He leaves to remember him always, two precious sons, TayVon and Tayshawn Brown; their mother Dantaya Covington; father and mother, Anthony L. and Louise Brown,Sr; sister Antonique Brown; grandfathers, Autrey Calloway and Arrow Brown Sr.; grandmothers, Lee B Vaughan and Marlis Brown; uncles, Lionel Hicks, Arrow Brown Jr, Christopher Calloway (Michelle), Michael Brown (Taneka); aunts, Darlene Rivers, Harriett Dickerson (Craig), Petria Hicks, Helen Johnson, Godfather, Kenneth Reed proceeded him in death, Godmother Debra A. Reed; extended family Tina and Tekela Fleming, Lorenzo Eggleston, Steven Hayes, Tameka Hobbs, Mareal Jordan, Destiny Jackson, Marlis Higgs, and a host of cousins, great uncles, great aunts, church family, and friends.