Claretha Brown Arnold, 70, of Jacksonville, entered the sunset of life on Friday, June 28, 2024 at Community Hospice Morris Care Center, Jacksonville. The daughter of Ed Brown, Jr. and Elizabeth Brown, she was born on Saturday, February 27, 1954 in Lakewood, New Jersey. Claretha was educated in the Putnam County School District and a 1972 graduate of Palatka South High School. She obtained her certification as a Medical Assistant from Concorde Career Institute in 1982. She spent over 30 years in the medical profession as a Medical Assistant, Medical Records Manager and most recently as Prescription Coordinator for Family Care Partners, where she  retired after 25+ years of service. She had many hobbies throughout the years from sewing and exercising to solving word puzzles. She always had a beautiful rose bush growing in her yard and enjoyed raising a variety of other plants along with vegetable gardening. She was very active in the maintenance of her lawn and DIY projects around her home. She was an excellent baker of cakes, brownies and other sweet treats. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother, and a loyal fan of the Soap Opera "The Young and the Restless" since the early 70s.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in eternal rest by her grandmother, Catherine Smith; grandfather, Robert L. Smith; brother, Ed Trumane Brown, Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memories: 3 sons, Bobby U. (Sebrina) Arnold, Jr, Brian R. Arnold, Kelly R. Arnold, all of Jacksonville; 3 grandchildren, Dasha L. Arnold, Darius S. Arnold,  Whitney B. Arnold, all of Jacksonville; 2 great grandsons, Bryson Arnold Dashawn Miko; 9 brothers, Larry Brown, Harvey Brown, Cornell (Meredith) Brown, Keith Shorter, Gordon (Christell) Brown, Bernard Brown, Eddie (Vontrece) Brown, Gregory (Veronica) Brown, Sr., Freddie (Janie) Brown, all of Palatka; 11 sisters, Shirley Brown, Betty Thomas, Cynthia McKinnon, Doreen Brown, Tangie (Edwin) Givens, Betty Jo Brown, Cassandra (Derrick) Holsey,  all of Palatka; Cicely Brown, Jacksonville; Loretha (Derrick) Tate, Anita Brown, both of Atlanta, GA, Ventrell Brown, Palm Coast.

Visitation of family and friends will be 6-8 p.m., Friday, July 12; Celebration of Claretha's Life will be 10 a.m., Saturday, July 13 at "Flagg's Chapel of Serenity." Pastor Ty Fields, Pleasant Grove A.M.E. Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Pattersonville Memorial Cemetery, East Palatka.