"J.E." John Edgar Brown Jr.

Mr. “J.E.” John Edgar Brown Jr., 76, passed away April 30, 2023. He was born January 11, 1947 in Surry County to the late John Edgar Brown Sr., and Lucy Blanche Parker Brown. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Sarah Elizabeth Brown. Mr. Brown was a member of the 1965 graduating class of Yadkinville High School and he also graduated from NC State University with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. J.E. was passionate about his church, his family, community service, photography, and genealogy. He was a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Yadkinville, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, RA leader, worked with KIDZ Klub, and served on various committees. He dearly loved his sons Steven, and Thomas, and his grandchildren. J.E. served his community as a member of the Yadkinville Jaycees, the Yadkin County Historical Society, Yadkinville Lions Club, and was a member of the Board of Directors for Yadkinville cemetery. For over 30 years, J.E. owned J.E. Brown Photography. He had the rare opportunity of earning a living doing something he truly loved. Until his last weeks, he proudly told caregivers about photographing the Miss America pageant when Kathy Fleming participated as Miss North Carolina. From the time he was a young man, J.E. enjoyed doing Genealogical research. He had thousands of names in a database connecting various families. He often received phone calls from people near and far asking for information he might have on their family. For several years, J.E. volunteered at the Yadkin County Public Library helping others with tracing their family history. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patsy Fleming Brown; children, John Steven (Koketta) Brown, Thomas James (Meredith) Brown; grandchildren, Christa (Kiyarash) Saghaey, Katie Brown, Mary Alice Brown, Graham Brown, and Lillian Brown. The family will receive friends, Tuesday, May 2, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. Mr. Brown will lie-in-state from 10:30 AM until 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Yadkinville. His funeral will follow at 11:00 AM with Rev. Will Hamric, Rev. Dallas Prestwood, and Rev. Ramona Prestwood officiating. Burial will follow at Yadkinville Cemetery. The family would like to thank Earlene Shumaker for her loving care and the staff of Mtn. Valley Hospice, especially Stacey, Dayna, and Haley. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Yadkinville, P.O. Box 668, Yadkinville, NC 27055 or to Mountain Valley Hospice of Yadkin County, 243 N. Lee Ave., Yadkinville, NC 27055. Gentry Family Funeral Service of Yadkinville is serving the Brown family.