06/15/15  Sparkman Country Music Legend Buried Today In Tennessee

Country music singer Jim Ed Brown, a native of Dallas County, will be honored and remembered during a public funeral at the “mother church of country music”, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. A news release from the Grand Ole Opry's public relations firm said doors will be open at 9:30am Monday with the funeral set for 10am. interment will be at Woodlawn and will also be open to the public.

Brown died of cancer at age 81 Thursday in Franklin, Tennessee. Brown began singing the Grand Ole Opry in 1963, when it was still based at the Ryman auditorium. Brown was in Fordyce a year ago, serving as grand marshal of the Cotton Belt Festival parade and headlined the entertainment on stage in front of the Dallas County Courthouse.