Kathryn Brown, a trailblazer in Sumner County public service and a fixture in the Gallatin community for decades, passed away on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, at the age of 92. Her legacy is one built on dedication, kindness, and a deep belief in treating everyone with dignity-whether they were a farmer selling a few acres or a developer planning a major commercial build.
Born in the Belotes Bend area of Sumner County to Charles Henry Suddarth and Ruth Carpenter Suddarth, Brown broke new ground as the first woman elected Register of Deeds in the county's history. She would go on to hold that office for 16 years, earning the trust of voters so thoroughly that she ran unopposed in her final three elections. Her influence extended beyond county lines, too-she was elected President of the Middle Tennessee Registers Association twice, in 1990 and 1996, and was honored as the Outstanding Sumner County Official in 1997.
Brown wasn’t just an officeholder-she was a cornerstone of the community. A charter graduate of the University of Tennessee County Officials Certificate Program, she brought both professionalism and personal warmth to her role.
That same spirit carried into her work with local organizations, including Business and Professional Women (BPW), the Kiwanis Club, the Sumner County Archives, and United Way of Sumner County. Her commitment to Gallatin’s growth was evident in every facet of her life.
At the heart of it all was family. Kathryn was married to Gene Brown, former Sumner County Schools Superintendent and a two-term elected official himself.
Together, they raised four children: Sherry Bentley, Mark Brown, Vivian Layman, and Mike Brown. Their home was one of values, where respect and gratitude weren’t just taught-they were expected.
Mark, a retired member of the Sumner County Schools Board of Education, recalled that if he ever forgot to thank someone for a ride or a kind gesture, his mother would make sure he picked up the phone and corrected it. “My mother taught me how to not mistreat people,” he said.
That same ethos carried into her public life. “It didn’t matter if the client was a farmer or a big developer,” Mark said.
“They were the same to her, and she’d make them sit down and have a cup of coffee.” That simple gesture-a cup of coffee and a conversation-was how Kathryn built trust, one person at a time.
Those who worked with her remember her as a force of nature-warm, talkative, and deeply connected to everyone she met. Bill Kemp, who served as Sumner County Clerk from 1990 until 2024, remembered the early days when county officials would carpool to events.
“It was my job to get Kathryn to the car when it was time to leave,” he said. “That was not always easy.
She wanted to talk to everyone in the room-and most of the time, she did.”
Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown, whose father was a cousin of Gene Brown, remembered Kathryn not just as a public servant, but as a personal mentor. “She loved to give me advice on politics,” the mayor said.
“She told me to put on some lipstick and go to the post office every single day-because that’s where you ran into people.” It was old-school wisdom, but it worked.
“She was right,” the mayor added. “I often ran into someone I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
Mayor Brown described her as “the quintessential Southern matriarch,” someone who was deeply involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren. And yes-her coconut cakes were legendary. So much so that her church sold them as fundraisers.
Even in her later years, Kathryn never stopped connecting with people. At Charter Senior Living, where she spent the last five years of her life, she served as a welcome ambassador-greeting new residents and making sure they felt at home. “She told me that making people feel like they were part of a family or community was the job God had given her for this life,” Mayor Brown shared.
Stephanie Harville, Executive Director at Charter, echoed that sentiment. “Ms.
Kathryn was an amazing friend and blessing,” she wrote. “The consummate Southern belle, she made each and every one of us feel special and valued.”
Harville also recalled a story that perfectly captured Kathryn’s wit and charm. When she decided it was time to move into senior living, she told her family, “Okay!
Take me to the liquor store!” It took them a moment to realize she was asking for moving boxes-not a bottle.
Kathryn Brown’s life was full of those moments-humor, heart, and a whole lot of humanity. She didn’t just serve her community; she helped shape it. And in doing so, she left behind a legacy that will be felt in Sumner County for generations to come.
Visitation will be held Friday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Gallatin. A funeral service, led by Rev.
Allen Weller, will follow at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church, 1042 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin. Burial will take place at Sumner Memorial Gardens.
Online condolences can be shared at www.AlexanderGallatin.com.