Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
In Millbrook and the surrounding communities, Jamie Brown is not just known for what she does, she is known for how she does it: with intention, compassion and a steady sense of purpose rooted in faith.
If you ask Brown what keeps her showing up for others, her answer is disarmingly simple, “God.” For her, it really is that clear. She believes her life has a purpose shaped by Him, and she’s committed to saying “yes” to whatever path He’s set before her.
That calling shows up not only in her personal life, but in her professional work as Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships for the Heart of Alabama Food Bank, where she connects businesses and organizations to hunger relief efforts across 12 counties in central Alabama. Through those partnerships, she helps expand access to nutritious food for families, seniors and children, work that reflects her deeply held belief in serving others.
Growing up, Brown said her grandmother left one of the deepest impressions on her life.
“She was a devout Christian and set a beautiful example for us,” Brown said. “Not to take anything away from my parents, but she was a very large influence in my life, as well as the life of my sister.”
That foundation of faith blended with a childhood filled with connection and community. Brown recalls a neighborhood where kids spent their days outdoors, playing softball, swimming, catching crawdads in the creek and building forts in the woods. Holidays brought their own traditions, from trick-or-treating on the back of a trailer to lighting homemade luminaries that were made out of gallon milk jugs with sand and candles at Christmas.
“I literally grew up in the best neighborhood,” she said. “There was so much to do.”
Those early experiences helped shape her understanding of belonging and the importance of showing up for others.
As the oldest child, Brown said, stepping into a helping role came naturally. But over time, that instinct grew into something more intentional.
“The older I got, the more I realized that I wanted to help and serve others in different ways,” she said.
Her career path reflects that evolution. Before joining the food bank, Brown spent more than 35 years in the financial services industry, building leadership skills and a reputation for strong relationships, tools she now uses to strengthen community partnerships. She also earned a master’s degree in human resource management from Troy University and maintains her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification, underscoring her commitment to growth and learning.
Today, that experience and perspective define how she engages with the people around her. Brown believes meaningful impact starts with something simple but often overlooked: listening.
“Everybody has a story. I have a story,” she said. “Taking the time to listen to others, building genuine and authentic relationships, and being kind, intentional and thoughtful, that is what has helped shape how I serve.”
For Brown, being a “difference maker” is not about recognition or scale. It’s about being willing.
“Being a difference maker means being open to God, utilizing my gifts and talents to further His kingdom,” she said.
Her commitment to community extends well beyond her professional role. She supports a range of local organizations and initiatives, including the Prattville YMCA’s Field of Dreams program, the Prattville-Millbrook Sunrise Rotary Club, Millbrook Community Theatre, the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and Coosada Baptist Church.
Still, she measures success less by titles or affiliations and more by impact, often found in quiet, personal moments.
“What keeps me motivated is knowing there’s a purpose behind it all,” she said.
That purpose also shapes how she hopes to influence the next generation.
“I hope and pray that I am and have been a positive role model,” Brown said. “Even though life may throw you curve balls, when you are a believer and follower of Christ, you know that it was all part of His plan, not mine.”
Her advice to young people is rooted in humility and service.
“It is never about you,” she said. “You have to remove yourself and realize that we are here to serve others.”
She often points to scripture to underscore that message.
“‘He must increase, but I must decrease,’” Brown said, quoting John 3:30. “In other words, He is greater than me.”
At home in Millbrook, Brown enjoys reading and writing and spending time with her husband, Gary, and their four rescued cats, small, meaningful moments that reflect the same care she brings to her community work.
In a place where connection still matters, Brown’s approach resonates. It’s not about grand gestures, it is about consistency, compassion and faith in action.
For Jamie Brown, making a difference is not a title. It is a calling, one she continues to answer, day by day.
