About 400 mourners attended a memorial service Thurs day for Edward L. Brown Sr., the local head of the International Longshoremen’s Association for more than two decades.

“His leadership will be missed but never forgotten,” said Tommy Little, president of ILA Local 1248.

Brown, 83, died Feb. 5 of complications from cancer.

He represented 2,000 longshoremen who load and unload the ships that call in the port of Hampton Roads, as well as about 1,800 retirees. As international vice president and wage-scale chief negotiator, Brown was able to secure collective-bargaining agreements that improved the standard of living for many in the port and benefited the entire maritime industry, Little said.

A letter from Gov. Bob McDonnell was read at the service at Kempsville Presbyterian Church. Remembrances also were shared by Roger Giesinger, president of the Hampton Roads Shipping Association, and Edward L. Brown III, Brown’s grandson.

“For 50 years, Mr. Brown worked to build the port of Hampton Roads into the great seaport that it is today,” McDonnell wrote in a letter read by Little. “Much of the port’s success is due to Mr. Brown.”

ILA President Richard Hughes, who leads about 18,500 longshoremen from Maine to Texas, had been scheduled to attend but was unable to because of snow in Baltimore, said Jim McNamara, a spokesman in the New York headquarters of the union, on Thurs day.

Brown ” may have been one of the top two or three most popular figures in the whole ILA for the past 30 years,” McNamara said. “He was a very intelligent negotiator; he understood management and he understood the ILA.”

The ILA is planning a memorial service for Brown, probably in mid-March at a national meeting in Tampa, Fla., McNamara said.

“If there is any unorganized labor in heaven, it won’t be for long,” Brown III said. “If there is any jurisdiction disputes in heaven, it won’t be for long; if there are any violations to the rules and regulations in heaven, it won’t be for long. Heaven will now be an organized place, because Ed Brown Sr. is on his way and all parties involved will meet at the center of the couch.”

Robert McCabe, (757) 446-2327, robert.mccabe@pilotonline.com

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/mourners-pay-respects-ila-leader-credited-port-success

As a longshoreman, he represented his local in various positions. He served as recording secretary before being elected president of that local in 1968. In 1986, he was elected international vice president of the Port of Hampton Roads. In this capacity, he also served as general vice president of the Atlantic Coast District. Ed Brown received countless awards and honors. The ILA District Council of Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Shipping Association, each year sponsor “The Edward L. Brown Sr. Norfolk State University Endowed Professorship in Management Golf Outing.” This event has contributed to the Norfolk State University Foundation. His great leadership and knowledge of the maritime industry has gained him respect nationwide by both the International Longshoreman’s Association and management. Ed Brown was a member of the National Association of Guardsmen Inc. and the Eureka Club of Portsmouth.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne H. Brown; a son, Edward L. Brown Jr.; four daughters, Judy Brown, Valerie Brown, Robin Hairston and Bunny Hairston; 11 grandchildren; 16 greatgrandchildren; two greatgreat-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the Kempsville Presbyterian Church, 805 Kempsville Road, Virginia Beach. Entombment will be in Rosewood Memorial Park Beach The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. to celebrate the life of Edward L. Brown Sr. at Metropolitan Funeral Service, Granby Street Chapel, followed by a wake and viewing from 7 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be offered at http://www.metropolitanfuneralservice.com.