Nancy Childs Brown Cornett

Nancy Childs Brown Cornett (1938 – 2025)

Macon, GA—Nancy Childs Brown Cornett, a passionate advocate for historic preservation and a driving force behind Macon’s vibrant arts community, passed away peacefully at the age of 87. A longtime resident of Macon, her legacy is woven into the very fabric of the city she loved. Nancy was also an accomplished pianist and lover of music, an avid world traveler, and a fabulous cook.

Born February 17, 1938 in Butler, GA to Preston Bussey Childs and Essie Lou Jones Childs, Nancy graduated from Butler High School and attended Mercer University, where she met her first love and future husband, Dr. L. E. Brown, in a biology class. A brilliant student and fiery redhead, Nancy graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1960 with a major in English and a minor in French. She was a proud member of the Mercer Debate Team, celebrating their success at the National Tournament at Harvard her senior year. She remained an active alumna and later served on Mercer’s Board of Trustees. She fearlessly broke professional barriers and became one of the first female stockbrokers at Merrill Lynch.

Her dedication to Macon is evident in her many accomplishments:

Historic Preservation: She served as the first Vice President and later President of the Macon Heritage Foundation, where she co-authored the inaugural Preservation Plan for Downtown Macon, sparking its resurgence. As a Mercer Board of Trustee, she skillfully negotiated the preservation of the neighborhood around the Law School, including the famed Overlook Mansion.

The Arts: Recognizing the power of a creative community, Nancy became the Founding Executive Director of the Macon Arts Alliance in 1985. She was instrumental in the Bibb Institute for Arts in Education and helped initiate Midsummer Macon at Wesleyan College. Her appointment to the Macon-Bibb legislative committee was key in bringing the Georgia Music Hall of Fame to Macon.

Later Career: After the untimely death of her first husband in 1988, Nancy returned to Mercer, earned a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and practiced as a clinician for 12 years.

Family Life and Legacy

Nancy and Dr. L. E. Brown built a life together that included service and family. After Nancy supported him through Medical School, they made many moves with the Army, including a station in Landstuhl, Germany, where Dr. Brown served during the Vietnam War. They returned to Macon where he co-founded the Central GA Eye Institute, she became involved in her community passions, and they raised their three children. Dr. Brown passed away in 1988.

Nancy found a second chance at love and married Donald J. Cornett in 2001, a longtime family friend and Macon native. Together, they pursued mutual passions in community service, the arts, and world travel. For 24 years, Don has been Nancy’s rock and in recent years, her steadfast caregiver as the family navigated the challenges of her dementia.

Nancy’s greatest pride was her three successful children: Melanie Brown Ketchum (Daniel) of Tulsa, OK, Catherine Brown Tucker(Jeff) of Atlanta, and Anthony “Tony” Edward Brown of Silver Springs, MD. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Dr. L. E. Brown. She is survived by her husband, Donald J. Cornett, her three children, her nine grandchildren, and her six great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Vineville United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 22 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Vineville United Methodist Church.

Hart’s Mortuary at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road, Macon GA 31210 has charge of arrangements.