GREENVILLE- Jessica Lauren (Sparks) Browning, age 40, passed away peacefully at her residence surrounded by family after a courageous 3-year battle with colon cancer.
Born June 24, 1984 and raised in Greenville, a community that became part of the fabric of who she was. Born to Wayne and Luann Sparks, Jessica inherited her dad’s expressive brown eyes and her mom’s joy for life. Her world became forever more interesting when her little sister, Rachel, arrived three years later quickly establishing herself as a lifelong best friend. Jessica’s love for family, community, and Christ were built in these early years.
Jessica was a 2002 graduate of Muhlenberg South High School where her infectious spirit shone as a South Sun Cheerleader. She brought that spirit with her to the University of Kentucky, graduating with high distinction in 2006. During her time at UK, she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority where she served her community alongside her sisters. Throughout her career, she was involved in numerous community based organizations as a Marketing specialist at Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital, always with the goal of giving back to the people who meant so much to her.
Jessica’s love for life could be seen in her trademark smile. She was determined, cheerful, faithful, and a best friend to all who knew and loved her. She enjoyed her time with family, her church, coworkers, and friends. She was married to her high school sweetheart, Hays Browning, meeting him in the early years of elementary school, and later dating him throughout high school and college. In 2007, Jessica and Hays married and built a beautiful life together that became even more joyous when they welcomed their son Brady Hays Browning in 2011 and daughter Bailey Ann Browning in 2013.
If you knew Jessica, you knew how much she loved her children and how very proud she was of both of them. Even during chemotherapy treatments, she would show up to their extra curricular events with a great big smile on her face and a proud twinkle in her eye.
It is no surprise that Jessica was loved, respected and admired by all who knew her. Her unwavering faith and positive outlook throughout her cancer battle was something that could only come from a child of God. It is this intense faith and her love for Christ and her family that serve as the foundation of Jessica’s beautiful legacy.
Alongside her husband and two children, Jessica is survived by her parents Wayne and Luann Sparks and sister Rachel Sparks (Wes) McDonald, a niece Kate Wesley, father and mother-in-law, John and Karen Browning, all of Greenville, a sister-in- law, Dr. Whitney Browning, of Nashville, TN as well as aunts, many cousins, and close friends, including The Qua and The Canasties.
A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church Greenville on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Officiated by Dr. John Galyen, Dr. Robert Browning, Rev. Stephen Summers, with eulogy delivered from Hays Browning at 1:00 pm with private burial to follow. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am at First Baptist Church Greenville.
In Jessica’s honor and in lieu of flowers, she requests donations to Greenville First Baptist Church Blessing Bags- providing food to those in need in the community.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.garysfuneralhome.net
