Michael Carl Brownlee, 60, of Cleveland, died on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in a Chattanooga hospital.
Michael was the son of the late Edith Hanvey Brownlee and Roy Brownlee; and was also preceded in death by his sister, Iris Vest.
Michael was a graduate of Lee University and he received his Masters Degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He was an Assistant Professor of Music at Lee University and was Keyboard Coordinator at Lee. Michael served Lee University for 33 years. He was a member of the Ocoee Music Teachers Association (O. M. T. A.) where he held several offices. He was named O.M.T.A. Teacher of the year. He was auditions and recital coordinator and an adjudicator for the association. He also served as adjudicator for the Tennessee Governors Honor and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association. Michael was a Nationally Certified Piano Teacher through the Music Teachers National Association (M. T. N. A.). He was in the Who’s Who in Americas Teachers, a member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers and a Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society Member. He was a sponsor for Alpha Chi Honor Society. Many of his students won several state awards for keyboard. Michael was the founding member of Summer Music Camp Committee and Piano Competition Committee at Lee University. He also served as an adjudicator for state and national Teen Talent competitions for the Church of God. He was an avid Tennessee Volunteer Basketball and Football fan and he loved spending time with his family. Michael was a charter member of the Westmore Church of God and was principle pianist at the church for 43 years.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Brownlee of Cleveland; his daughter, Bridgette Noelle “Gigi” Brownlee of Cleveland; his son, Chet Michael Brownlee also of Cleveland; his granddaughter, Kaelyn Elise Brownlee of Cleveland; his sisters, Brenda Brittain and her husband Ed of Woodruff, SC, Ernestine “Teeny” Hand and her husband Byron of Woodruff, SC; his brothers, Earl Brownlee and his wife Mildred and Keith Brownlee and his wife Larinda all of Spartanburg, SC; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m. from the Westmore Church of God with Pastor Jentezen Franklin, Pastor Richie Franklin, Dr. Lamar Vest and Dr. Paul Conn officiating. The body will be at the church on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 12 p.m. until the funeral time at 1 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the Westmore Church of God.
The North Ocoee Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes has charge of the arrangements.