His wife, Melinda, died in August 1995 after being bit while handling a snake. The Browns had five children. It was the hand of God. Porter, who took home Brown's two snakes, said he plans to give them to Brown's brother who lives in Newport, Tennessee. Summerford, who has been bitten five times while handling snakes, said his church won't change.
Serpent handling continues to be practiced in some churches, primarily in Appalachia.
The members of at least three churches on Sand Mountain handle serpents, Porter said. Summerford's brother pastors another serpent-handling church in Jackson County. Most, however, don't enforce it because authorities see it as a religious practice, he said. Sherbert, who said he has been bitten 23 times and often attends the Jackson County church, doesn't believe Brown's death will faze members. I think they will be more careful about handling serpents.