David Austin Brown

David A. Brown, a well-known Aiken attorney, died

Monday, December 5, 2005, at University Hospital in Augusta. He was 69.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday June 3, 2006 at St. John's United Methodist Church, 104 Newberry St. NW, Aiken, 29801.

A native of Paris, TN, Mr. Brown attended Georgia

Tech, and was a graduate of the University of

Tennessee where he was a member of the Sigma Chi

Fraternity. After several years in the insurance

industry as a claims adjuster for Allstate and Liberty

Mutual Insurance Companies, he became a student at the

University of South Carolina School of Law from which

he graduated in 1973. While there he was elected to

Wig and Robe as well as Law Review. He began his

legal career with the firm of Allgood & Childs in

Augusta and then in 1978, he became a member of the

Henderson & Salley law firm in Aiken. Mr. Brown left

the firm in 1991 to open his own office where he

continued to practice law until his death. Having

been primarily a defense trial attorney throughout his

career, he developed a specialty of medical

malpractice defense and was widely known as one of the

premier malpractice defense attorneys in South

Carolina. Mr. Brown was a member of the South

Carolina and Georgia Bars, the Defense Research

Institute, and the South Carolina Defense Trial

Attorneys Association. He was a staunch protector of

children and did pro bono work for Aiken County Social

Services. Mr. Brown also served on the Dispute

Resolution Board for the South Carolina Bar.

Outside his legal practice, Mr. Brown was known as an

avid fisherman to the extent that he and his wife

moved from Aiken to their home at Clark's Hill Lake in

1997. While there Mr. Brown provided legal assistance

for the Towns of Modoc, Plum Branch, and Parksville.

He was also made an honorary member of the Modoc Fire

Department in recognition of his valuable assistance

and counsel.

Mr. Brown was the son of the late Julia and Austin

Brown of Paris, TN., and is survived by his wife,

Harriette J. Brown, of Modoc Shores, a daughter and

son-in-law, Julia and Steve Davis, of Aiken, a son and

daughter-in-law, William and Kelly Harris, of Decatur,

AL, a brother, Charles Brown, of Paris, TN, and two

granddaughters, Abigail Davis and Amanda Harris.

In accordance with Mr. Brown's wishes, a memorial

service will be planned after the first of the year

when the moon is full and the bass are biting. Mr.

Brown lived his life to be remembered as a devoted

friend, a good man, and a fine lawyer. He requested

that any memorial contributions be made to the Aiken

Community Playhouse, 124 Newberry Street, SW, Aiken,

SC 29801. Arrangements are under the direction of

George Funeral Homes Historic Downtown Chapel