Kenneth Wayne Brown

1949 - 2024

Kenneth Wayne Brown

January 5, 1949 - February 22, 2024

Charlotte, North Carolina - Kenneth "Kenny" Wayne Brown, 75, passed away peacefully at his home on February 22, surrounded by his wife and children. He was diagnosed with cancer less than a month before.

Kenny was born on January 5, 1949, and embodied what it was to be a family man. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 55 years, Julia Nance Brown; along with his 3 children Laura Brown-Willingham (married to Christopher Willingham), Elizabeth Brown-Hubbard (married to Harold Hubbard), and Matthew Brown (married to Lindsay Ritter-Brown). He also leaves behind 4 siblings, Jean Helms (widow of Kenneth Helms), Jimmy Brown (married to Ann), Bobby Brown (married to Nina), and Donny Brown (married to Judy), all residing on the same road where they were raised. Additionally, he is survived by his 5 grandchildren, Madison, Noah (married to Ella) & Caleb Willingham, and Avery & Aiden Hubbard, along with 9 nieces & nephews, 17 great-nieces & nephews, and a great-grandchild expected in June. Kenny was preceded in death by his father Joseph William Brown and mother Louise Oehler Brown.

Kenny attended North Meck High School ('67), where he met the love of his life, Julia Nance. Along with his siblings, Kenny was a 7th generation Mecklenburg County farmer - a rare title in Carolina's most urban county - tending crops, cattle, and dairy over the years. He took up beekeeping in 2015 with Julia, selling honey from the front porch of their log home on Hucks Road and using only the honor system for payment. In 1968, Kenny enlisted in the Army National Guard and went on to serve 6 years in the 105th Engineer Battalion. In 1971, he began 30-years of service with the Charlotte Fire Department. In 1974, he became part of CFD's first rescue squad at station 1. He went on to serve as Engineer of the squad where he spent the rest of his career saving countless lives - countless because he was far too humble to take credit for any of them. For Kenny, it was always about serving others and never about recognition, but great men can rarely go unnoticed for long (even if they try) and during CFD's centennial year he would receive the department's highest commendation, the Heroism Award. After retiring from CFD, he co-owned Brown's Landscaping with his brother Jimmy until their mutual retirement just this past December.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, at the historic Palmer Fire School building, 2601 E 7th St in Charlotte. Visitation will take place from 1-2 PM, followed by a Memorial from 2-3 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donating blood in Kenny's memory (if able) or a financial donation to the Red Cross, where over the years, Kenny gave more than 11 gallons of O- blood.