The first mayor of Navassa has passed away.
Louis “Bobby” Brown died at the age of 94 on Sunday, but his daughter said her father’s legacy will live on.
Valorie Hatten said her father’s death was from a mixture of heartbreak and old age. Brown’s wife, Ruby Brown, recently died. They were married for more than 70 years.
Bobby Brown served as Navassa’s first mayor from 1977-1999.
The Browns loved Navassa and wanted to take care of their community, said Hatten, noting it would not be the town it is today without her father’s guidance.
“He put Navassa on the map,” she said.
She said her father made sure to emphasize Navassa as a special place.
The first town hall was held at the Browns’ home since a town hall was not built yet, Hatten said.
Some of Bobby Brown’s accomplishments include incorporating the small community, starting a local food bank, forming a town fire department and serving as a mayor for more than 20 years without a college degree.
Brown’s hard work and compassion for the community also led him to being honored with the state’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine award in 1984.