DURHAM, NC - Mr. Douglas L. 'Papoose' Brown, 62, of 2 Hannah Court, died Sunday, June 21, 2009 at his residence. His funeral service was conducted Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 12 noon at Fisher Memorial United Holy Church, 420 E. Piedmont Ave. Interment followed at the Beechwood Cemetery.

Mr. Brown born and raised in Durham County was the son of the late Willie Mae Brown. Douglas enjoyed his childhood as the big brother to his younger siblings; David, Sharon, Sheila and Chandra.

After graduating from Hillside High School in 1965, he enrolled at North Carolina Central University, earning his B.S. degree in Accounting in 1969. With his sheepskin in hand he reported to New York City to begin a career in public accounting starting with the firm of Arthur Anderson & Co. Douglas was united in marriage to Sheila Martin in 1971.

In 1972, Douglas moved to Atlanta where he secured a promotion to Audit Senior with Arthur Anderson's Atlanta office. He later joined the firm of Richard S. Rose, Jr., P.C. Certified Public Accountant as a Principal and Treasurer. In 1975 he passed the North Carolina CPA exam.

In 1976 he began an outstanding 23 year career with MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. In 1983, he progressed through the ranks until he became the Assistant to the Board/General Manager for Audit. Because of his outstanding management of MARTA'S internal audit operations, the Authority's external auditors recommended Douglas for an award of a Georgia CPA certification in 1988.

Douglas's professional and civic affiliations included: the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Society of Certified Public Accountants; the Institute of Internal Auditors; the Butler Street YMCA; the NAACP, the Conference of Minority Public Administrators; and the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials.

Left to cherish his loving memories are three sisters, Sharon (Jesse) Dukes, Sheila Renee Brown and Chandra Tedder; a sister-in-law, Yvonne Flowers Brown; two nieces; two nephews; a super special cousin, Margo Brown Dunston; a devoted and "brother like" cousin, Kenneth (Carol) Nicholson and a host of relatives and friends.