Boy Was Lover of Spotlight: Earl Lamont Brown Jr., 8, of Akron Enjoyed Hearing Music, Going to School
By Marilyn Miller, The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Mar. 10–Earl Lamont Brown Jr. was his mother’s pride and joy. He was a happy child with an infectious smile.
Disabled since he was an infant, the 8-year-old needed a wheelchair, but he knew how to communicate in other ways.
“He let you know if he was uncomfortable. He would cry. And you really could tell when he enjoyed something — he would smile and laugh out loud,” said his mother, Marquita Thompson of Akron.
Earl died Saturday. He was found not breathing in his home about 10 a.m. that day. Paramedics were called, and he was taken to Akron Children’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The cause of death has yet to be determined. Investigators in the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said no recent trauma appears to have contributed to his death. Earl had had severe brain damage since he was an infant, and it resulted in numerous hospital visits throughout his life.
Akron detectives said Earl was a victim of shaken-baby syndrome in October 1998. Lawrence Felton Miller, then 18, pleaded guilty to felonious child endangering and was sentenced in 1999 to eight years in prison.
Earl was born at Akron City Hospital. He attended Barrett Academy, an Akron public school fully accessible to people in wheelchairs.
“His face lit up when he came into the classroom,” said Gretchen Kennedy, a physical therapist at the school. “He loved when people paid attention to him. He loved to be held or touched. He was a very affectionate child.”
Earl was severely handicapped. He could move his head and could use a few fingers on one hand.
“He was totally dependent on others for his needs,” his mother said. “People would tell me that I had a lot on my plate with four children, but he was my baby. The baby that I would have had forever.”
His sisters, Lashondra Brown, 13, and Marqwesha Brown, 10, and brother Lawrence Miller III, 6, also saw to his needs.
They said their brother really enjoyed music, especially songs by Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz and the song Yeah! by Usher.
“My son really enjoyed being around a lot of people, especially other children,” Marquita Thompson said.
She said he knew his immediate family. “Even the night before he passed away, there were 15 kids here, all family members, for a sleepover,” Thompson said. “We have a big family. He was having such a good time.
“The kids didn’t stare at him, asking what’s wrong,” she said. “Everybody just catered to him and loved him for who he was.”
A funeral is scheduled for noon Saturday at North Hill Community Baptist Church, 983 Avon St. in Akron. Family visitation is 11 a.m to noon.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or 800-777-7232 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com
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