Sandra Moran Brown

Sandra Moran Brown

January 14, 1944 - October 13, 2025

Sandra M. Brown passed away at Inova Fairfax hospital on Monday, October 13, surrounded by her family, after complications following a stroke. She was 81.

The middle child of John Moran and Althea Wilson Moran, Sandra was born on January 14, 1944, growing up in the rural community of Belspring near Radford in southwest Virginia, with her older brother, Ellies, and her younger sister, Frances. In Belspring, Sandra met and married W.C. Brown shortly after graduating from Radford College with her Bachelor of Arts in music. The couple soon built their first home adjoining the Browns' dairy farm in Blacksburg, Virginia (now the Heritage Community Park and Nature Area) where they raised their children, Michael and Cathy.

The Browns moved to Warrenton, Virginia in 1978 after W.C. took the position as the Agriculture Extension agent for Fauquier County. A devoted, stay-at-home mom, Sandra first began teaching elementary school music and middle school chorus for Fauquier County Public Schools once her children were older. She later worked as an administrative assistant at Jefferson Savings and Loan Association rising to the position of assistant Vice President, and continued in that position with Crestar and SunTrust Bank until her retirement.

Sandra was a lifelong member of P.E.O. Sisterhood, an international organization focused on advancing and supporting educational opportunities for women. Initiated into Chapter AH (Blacksburg) in1969, she transferred to Chapter AT (Manassas) in 1981, later co-founding Chapter BL (Warrenton) in 1996 where she remained a member until joining Chapter Eternal last week. Her P.E.O. accomplishments included serving on the Virginia State Board from 1985 until 1992, choosing as the theme for her State President's year "Love Binds All Things in Perfect Harmony."

Sandra loved music in all its forms. She learned to play piano, and performed as a music major on stage at the 1965 World's Fair in New York with the Radford College choir, singing Ave Maria. Michael's earliest memory as a child is of running around the living room while Sandra played one of Mozart's piano sonatas on the family's upright piano. She was a patient piano teacher, tutoring many students over the years, while encouraging Michael and Cathy to grow and develop as young musicians during their years in school. Sandra was always an enthusiastic member of the choir at each of her church homes: first at Belspring Presbyterian Church, then Northside Presbyterian Church in Blacksburg, and later Warrenton United Methodist Church and Warrenton Presbyterian Church. She learned to play handbells and became a member of the Church's handbell choir, and enjoyed her many years as a member of the Warrenton Chorale.

Sandra had an undeniable passion for service to others. In addition to her commitment to P.E.O., she served for many years on the Fauquier Hospital Auxiliary as a volunteer and Board member. Always appreciating a good bargain, Sandra devoted many hours to helping manage-but never completely organizing-- the Auxiliary thrift shop on Main Street, and in decorating the hospital for the holiday season with her friends in the Auxiliary. While with Jefferson Savings and SunTrust, she also worked for some time as a local coordinator with the United Way, and volunteered with Fauquier Habitat of Humanity, eventually serving on its Board of Directors.

Sandra delighted in travel, enjoying numerous trips with W.C. and his siblings and spouses to New England, the south and southwestern U.S. and the Pacific coast, as well as abroad to Europe. Lively, energetic and possessing a keen sense of humor, Sandra was an avid and thoughtful reader. She treasured her time meeting and discussing books and the issues of the day with her fellow book club members, never missing a meeting if she could, even if not always "treasuring" the book selection that month.

Sandra is survived by W.C., her devoted husband of over 59 years, her son Michael Brown and wife, Amy, her daughter Cathy Sporer and husband, Mike, her granddaughter Emily Jaffke and husband, Patrick, her great-granddaughter, June Jaffke, and countless nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, every single one of whom she loved and adored.

The family welcomes Sandra's many friends and family at Moser Funeral Home on Friday, October 24 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Sandra's life will be held at Warrenton Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family request that you consider a donation in Sandra's memory in support of P.E.O. Sisterhood's Program for Continuing Education (PCE), 3700 Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa 50312 or the Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 91 Main Street, Warrenton, Virginia 20186

Online condolences may be left at www.moserfuneralhome.com