Perfecto Brown

Perfecto Brown, lovingly and affectionately known as Freck, was born on February 6, 1949, to his late parents Perfecto Lopez and Mary Brown. Perfecto spent his early years of life in Chester and Atlantic City, NJ. He grew up with his older siblings and some cousins that he considered his siblings. Even though he did not complete his high school education, he did go back to school to receive his GED. He also attended Job Corps shortly after receiving his GED. Job Corps brought him to Grand Rapids, MI. Grand Rapids would become his home and remain his home for the remainder of his life.

Perfecto entered the United States Army a few days shy of his 19 th birthday on January 28 th of 1968. He served proudly in the Vietnam War and received many accolades during his time there. A few included National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars. He was honorably discharged as a valiant soldier.

After his time served in the military, he returned home to Grand Rapids, MI. While in Grand Rapids, Perfecto met the love of his life, Suzan. He loved not only Suzan, but her two young daughters from previous relationships. The two of them went on to have three more children, their only son, and two daughters. Perfecto and Suzan faced some challenging years together. Shortly after their last daughter was born, Perfecto was faced with a daunting and devastating prison sentence that would leave Suzan to raise their five children alone. While in prison, Perfecto had a life changing moment. He had been living much of his time their devoted to the Muslim faith. But the Bible tells us that the fervent and effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much. And in the words of our dear sister Helen Baylor, one of Suzan’s favorite gospel singers, Perecto had a praying woman, who knew how to call on the name of Jesus! She prayed for his salvation. And while in prison, a place of physical bondage, the Lord set Perfecto free and he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He would later receive his ordination as a licensed pastor on June 6, 2020.

A couple of months after his release in 1997, Perfecto married the love of his life, Suzan Natalie on September 26, 1997. Their family was now made whole again.

Perfecto loved his family deeply. There was truly not a thing that he would not do for them. He took pride in being a father to not only his children, but his grandchildren and even great grandchildren. He loved being a husband and he took care of his wife with deep pride. He did not subscribe to the traditional roles of what a husband does and what a wife does because he truly did it all. He cooked and made the best spaghetti ever with the sauce being made from scratch. He took care of their home making sure if something was broken that it was fixed and mostly in a timely manner. He would even fix things at his kid’s houses and family members too. He had a thing for fixing cars too. We are sure he fixed all the cars they had. He loved spending time with his family playing dominoes and spades. And you better had known how to play if you wanted to be his partner. His faith was his foundation, and he unwaveringly led with that conviction. He would always share with us the lessons he had learned from life and what the Lord had to say about it all. Perfecto was a man full of love, joy, wisdom, and so much grace and forgiveness for others. He was a gentle giant, and his presence will be greatly missed.

Perfecto left this world free of pain, with his beautiful wife by his side, and into the arms of his Savior on June 14, 2025. He was preceded in death by his father Perfecto Lopez, mother Mary Brown Justiniano, daughter Ja’ton Wilkins, grandson Prince Covington, a special aunt who raised him like her own, Becky Cruzado, sisters Ramona Sanders, Darlene Justiniano, and Sheila Justiniano, and cousin/siblings Felicia Cruzado, and William (Scoody) Ocaiso. He will leave to cherish in his loving memories, his beloved wife Suzan Brown; children Janicca (Leroy) Covington of Pennsylvania, Perfecto Buggs, Ramona Buggs, Kryshaun Buggs, Semone Dorsey and Tyrosh Brown all of Grand Rapids; 19 grandchildren Gabrielle Wilkins, Jade Player, Patrick (PJ) MacDonald, Yazmin Buggs, Kristopher Buggs, Jeremiah Brown, Kylah- Jordan Buggs, Adam Buggs, Andrew Buggs, Sean Buggs, Kenneth Brown, Kevin Brown, Buggs, Suzan Buggs, Bella Covington, Jacob Buggs, Maximus Buggs, Malachi Flowers, and Maxwell Covington; and 4 great grandchildren Zoey Burton, Zakari Burton, Jasean Stewart, and Josiah Stewart; siblings Anthony (Debra) Brown of Hot Springs, AR, Steven (Karen) Murry of Huntsville, AL, Don (Santhia) Justiniano of NY, Carmen (Robert) Black of Atlantic City, NJ, Victor (Pamela) Justiniano Egg Harbor, NJ, Crystal (Sterling) Duncan of Pleasantville, NJ, and Angela James Nomah of Milton, NC; cousins who were raised as siblings Alyce (Busha) Love, Margo Cruzado, and Tyronne Brown; and a host of in laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.