David Heston Brown Jr.

1923 - 2025

David Heston Brown, Jr.

October 27, 1923 - September 17, 2025

David passed away peacefully on September 17, 2025 at the age of 101 at Friends Homes, Greensboro N.C. David was born in Northampton County, North Carolina, to David Heston and Christine Frazier Brown. He graduated from Westtown Friends School in Pennsylvania in 1943 and attended Guilford College in North Carolina, where he met Mae Raiford, his future wife. They were married June 15, 1946. They had three children: Christine, who passed away in 1994, David III, and Walter. David and Mae also helped to raise their oldest great-granddaughter, Phoenix.

While living in Virginia Beach with his growing family, David served in several management positions during 18 years with Nationwide Insurance Companies. At the same time, David and Mae helped to plant and nurture the newly formed Virginia Beach Friends School before becoming Director of Development at Olney Friends School in Barnesville, Ohio, in 1965. In October 1972 David and Mae moved to Greensboro, N.C., where David became the first Administrator of Friends Homes, Inc., supervising the original building while raising funds for the next four buildings and overseeing their construction.

In 1983, David began his real estate career and remained owner of his company until shortly before his death. In addition to mentoring younger agents, he found great pleasure in working with families to find the homes that suited them best.

David was a lifelong Quaker and at his death was a member of Friendship Friends Meeting in Greensboro. He served North Carolina Yearly Meeting (Conservative) as Clerk for both Virginia Beach Monthly Meeting and the Yearly Meeting. David also represented NCYM at annual sessions of FCNL, FWCC, and AFSC.

For over 40 years David was an active member of the Guilford College Community Civitan Club, where he and Mae enjoyed helping less fortunate members in the community.

David lived for meeting and connecting with people wherever he went. Nobody remained a stranger to him. In particular, he loved children and delighted them with funny stories, puzzles, and magic tricks. David's sharp sense of humor and keen observations on life shone through his writing. He continued creating poetry and prose in his later years, writing and publishing five books.

David and Mae enjoyed traveling, both abroad and to places like the beach and to the mountain house they built in Patrick County, Va. They loved to share these special places with their children, grandchildren, and great-children, with whom they spent many happy summertime's.

David is survived by his loving wife of 79 years, Mae Raiford Brown. Their love was a source of comfort and inspiration for all who witnessed it. There was nothing but love between David and his progeny: his sons David III and wife, Ruth, Walter and wife, Bambi; his grandchildren: Amy Elliott and husband, Scott, and Walter's daughters; London, Ash-Leigh, and Savannah; his great-granddaughters; Phoenix and Skye; as well as his adopted family, Shuyang Liu (Sherry) and daughter Hui. This love included nieces, nephews, and even complete strangers. He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Wilson, brother, Benjamin Brown, granddaughter, Jessica, and adopted son, Youming Chu (Chuck).

David's family would like to thank all the Friends Homes caregivers and dining crew who went out of their way every day to make his time at Friends Homes so pleasant, enjoying his jokes, wit, and humor. The family is especially grateful to those who went above and beyond their duties to make his final days as comfortable as possible.

David lit up every room he walked in with his wit and his humor, his light and his love. Even in those last days, he retained a gleam in his eye for his friends and loved ones.

A memorial service in the manner of Friends will be held on Saturday, October 4th, at 2 p.m., at Friendship Friends Meeting. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to Friendship Friends Meeting, 1103 New Garden Road, Greensboro, N.C. 27410.