Missing deaf NC man. Search's called off

Miss-Delectable · 04-05-2005, 10:15 AM

Search ends for man lost off N.C. coast

Family, friends mourn boater

By Johanna D. Wilson
The Sun News

Jack Brown wanted to tell his church family about his dearly loved brother, but the tears were just too much Sunday.

"He had a natural ability of making people laugh," said Brown, 41. "It was unbelievable. He couldn't speak a word, but he could make motions, signs and gestures that would crack people up."

Losing Johnny Wayne Brown is tough for Jack and other family members and friends who are mourning the man who could not talk but managed to communicate volumes.

Johnny Wayne Brown, a 38-year-old Conway commercial fisherman and a deaf-mute, was never found by Coast Guard officials in North Carolina after a nearly 26-hour search that begin around 2 p.m. Saturday.

"This is so unfortunate because we don't ever want to tell a family we have to suspend searching because we always would like to be able to search forever," said Krys Hannum, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard, who is based in Portsmouth, Va. "The other two gentlemen were so lucky."

Brown, his brother-in-law and another man were tossed into the ocean after a 30- to 40-foot wave toppled the 50-foot boat they were using to catch grouper and snapper, family members and Coast Guard officials said.

The wave, which an N.C. meteorologist thinks was a rogue wave, swallowed the boat, called The Tracy Lynn, about 9 a.m. Saturday.

"It's like what folks saw in the movie, 'The Perfect Storm,'" said Tim Armstrong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C. "You have all these waves traveling in different directions in the middle of the ocean.

"And occasionally the waves will phase together for a few seconds and create one wave. So a 20-foot wave and another 20-foot wave would make a 40-foot wave," Armstrong said.

Armstrong said a strong cold front, probably the most intensive this year, moved across the area Saturday. A gail warning told people to expect winds higher than 40 miles per hour across coastal waters.

Brown, his brother-in-law, Tony Bessent, and Gary McCombs were about 50 miles off shore from Cape Fear, N.C., when the wave hit, Coast Guard officials and family members said.

Bessent was rescued about 2 p.m. by a Greek container ship called the Sophia Brittania heading to Norfolk, Va., and McCombs was rescued shortly after by a Coast Guard helicopter out of Elizabeth City, N.C.

Bessent was in good condition and was not transported to a hospital. McCombs was in stable condition Sunday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C.

If he could have fought the tears Sunday at Pauley Swamp Baptist Church in Conway, Jack Brown said he would have offered dozens of reasons he loved his brother.

"People who had never used sign language in their life could sit down and talk to Johnny," he said.

On June 11, Johnny Wayne Brown was to marry in Conway at Laura Abernathy's house.

At 18 months old, he contracted spinal meningitis and a high fever damaged the nerves in his ears, Abernathy, his sister, said.

A graduate of the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, he began fishing with Bessent while in high school.

"I was always told Johnny was the best fisherman," Abernathy said.

Miss-Delectable · 04-05-2005, 10:27 AM

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld...l/11314905.htm

Memorial service planned for missing boater

Family and friends will come together Saturday to tell Johnny Wayne Brown goodbye.

The life of the 38-year-old Conway commercial fisherman will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at Calvary Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church in Conway, said Brenda Brown, his mother.

On Monday, a Coast Guard official said Brown's body had still not been found. Coast Guard personnel looked for Brown, missing since Saturday morning, nearly 26 hours off the coast of North Carolina before suspending their search Sunday.

"We are confident we have done everything in our power to try to find Johnny," said Petty Officer Donnie Brzuska, a spokesman for the Coast Guard Fifth District Command in Portsmouth, Va. "And unfortunately, we didn't."

Brown; Tony Bessent, his brother-in-law; and Gary McCombs were tossed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles off shore from Cape Fear, N.C., while aboard a 50-foot boat called the Tracy Lynn.

The men had been at sea for about a week fishing for grouper and snapper when a 30- to 40-foot wave toppled the vessel about 9 a.m. Saturday.

Bessent and McCombs survived.

Brenda Brown said her grief is fresh, yet knowing that her son was doing what he loved helps soothe her sorrow.

"The day he was getting ready to go on that trip he was jumping all around like a little kid seeing Santa Claus," she said. "Johnny was so happy."

Brown was a deaf-mute who usually used sign language to speak. One of the last things he said, according to his sister, Lisa Bessent, was "Tell Sam I love her." Sam was his fiancee; they were to marry June 11.

Roadrunner · 04-05-2005, 10:43 AM

That's sad and also never to see or experience the manifestation of a wedding day with the woman whom he cherished and loved--

My thoughts and prayers goes out to his immediate family and friends....

Liraz · 04-05-2005, 11:46 AM

It was shocking! Because I know Johnny at SCSDB. He was really a nice young man. We even rode on the same bus every weekend back and forth. Johnny will be missed even though we had not been in touch since we went our separate ways.

04-05-2005, 10:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,854 Blog Entries: 3	Missing deaf NC man. Search's called off Search ends for man lost off N.C. coast Family, friends mourn boater By Johanna D. Wilson The Sun News Jack Brown wanted to tell his church family about his dearly loved brother, but the tears were just too much Sunday. "He had a natural ability of making people laugh," said Brown, 41. "It was unbelievable. He couldn't speak a word, but he could make motions, signs and gestures that would crack people up." Losing Johnny Wayne Brown is tough for Jack and other family members and friends who are mourning the man who could not talk but managed to communicate volumes. Johnny Wayne Brown, a 38-year-old Conway commercial fisherman and a deaf-mute, was never found by Coast Guard officials in North Carolina after a nearly 26-hour search that begin around 2 p.m. Saturday. "This is so unfortunate because we don't ever want to tell a family we have to suspend searching because we always would like to be able to search forever," said Krys Hannum, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard, who is based in Portsmouth, Va. "The other two gentlemen were so lucky." Brown, his brother-in-law and another man were tossed into the ocean after a 30- to 40-foot wave toppled the 50-foot boat they were using to catch grouper and snapper, family members and Coast Guard officials said. The wave, which an N.C. meteorologist thinks was a rogue wave, swallowed the boat, called The Tracy Lynn, about 9 a.m. Saturday. "It's like what folks saw in the movie, 'The Perfect Storm,'" said Tim Armstrong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C. "You have all these waves traveling in different directions in the middle of the ocean. "And occasionally the waves will phase together for a few seconds and create one wave. So a 20-foot wave and another 20-foot wave would make a 40-foot wave," Armstrong said. Armstrong said a strong cold front, probably the most intensive this year, moved across the area Saturday. A gail warning told people to expect winds higher than 40 miles per hour across coastal waters. Brown, his brother-in-law, Tony Bessent, and Gary McCombs were about 50 miles off shore from Cape Fear, N.C., when the wave hit, Coast Guard officials and family members said. Bessent was rescued about 2 p.m. by a Greek container ship called the Sophia Brittania heading to Norfolk, Va., and McCombs was rescued shortly after by a Coast Guard helicopter out of Elizabeth City, N.C. Bessent was in good condition and was not transported to a hospital. McCombs was in stable condition Sunday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C. If he could have fought the tears Sunday at Pauley Swamp Baptist Church in Conway, Jack Brown said he would have offered dozens of reasons he loved his brother. "People who had never used sign language in their life could sit down and talk to Johnny," he said. On June 11, Johnny Wayne Brown was to marry in Conway at Laura Abernathy's house. At 18 months old, he contracted spinal meningitis and a high fever damaged the nerves in his ears, Abernathy, his sister, said. A graduate of the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, he began fishing with Bessent while in high school. "I was always told Johnny was the best fisherman," Abernathy said. __________________

04-05-2005, 10:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 8,854 Blog Entries: 3	http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld...l/11314905.htm Memorial service planned for missing boater Family and friends will come together Saturday to tell Johnny Wayne Brown goodbye. The life of the 38-year-old Conway commercial fisherman will be celebrated at 1 p.m. at Calvary Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church in Conway, said Brenda Brown, his mother. On Monday, a Coast Guard official said Brown's body had still not been found. Coast Guard personnel looked for Brown, missing since Saturday morning, nearly 26 hours off the coast of North Carolina before suspending their search Sunday. "We are confident we have done everything in our power to try to find Johnny," said Petty Officer Donnie Brzuska, a spokesman for the Coast Guard Fifth District Command in Portsmouth, Va. "And unfortunately, we didn't." Brown; Tony Bessent, his brother-in-law; and Gary McCombs were tossed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 50 miles off shore from Cape Fear, N.C., while aboard a 50-foot boat called the Tracy Lynn. The men had been at sea for about a week fishing for grouper and snapper when a 30- to 40-foot wave toppled the vessel about 9 a.m. Saturday. Bessent and McCombs survived. Brenda Brown said her grief is fresh, yet knowing that her son was doing what he loved helps soothe her sorrow. "The day he was getting ready to go on that trip he was jumping all around like a little kid seeing Santa Claus," she said. "Johnny was so happy." Brown was a deaf-mute who usually used sign language to speak. One of the last things he said, according to his sister, Lisa Bessent, was "Tell Sam I love her." Sam was his fiancee; they were to marry June 11. __________________

04-05-2005, 11:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Liraz Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 14	Johnny Brown It was shocking! Because I know Johnny at SCSDB. He was really a nice young man. We even rode on the same bus every weekend back and forth. Johnny will be missed even though we had not been in touch since we went our separate ways.

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04-05-2005, 10:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Roadrunner Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,090	That's sad and also never to see or experience the manifestation of a wedding day with the woman whom he cherished and loved-- My thoughts and prayers goes out to his immediate family and friends....