Leonard Brown

1931 - 2025

Leonard Brown

Born: May 22, 1931 | Died: October 30, 2025

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, Leonard Lee Brown passed away at his home in Yadkinville, North Carolina, on October 30, 2025, at the age of 94. Leonard was a life-long resident of Yadkin County. He was born on May 22, 1931 to Jacob Foy Brown and Dollie Calloway Brown in the North Oak Ridge community and he lived most of his life in Yadkinville. He was the youngest of three children and was very close with his brother, Conrad Monroe Brown, Sr., and his sister, Marie Brown James. Upon graduation from R.J. Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, Leonard worked for many years in his family business, Brown's Department Store in Yadkinville. He always had an entrepreneurial spirit and, later in his career, worked as an independent agent for New York Life Insurance Company and managed various business ventures. Leonard was fortunate to have married two wonderful women. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy Sue Myers Brown. He was later preceded in death by his second wife of 49 years, Hazel Fay Nixon Brown. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Conrad, and by his sister, Marie. Leonard is survived by his children: Charles Jacob Brown, Mona Brown Ketner, Nadja Sue Ramsay, and David Leonard Brown (Martha). He treasured his grandchildren: Adam Ketner (Rebecca), Amanda Lee Weissman (Noah), Caoilin Ramsay, Emily Brown, Mary Brown, Laura Ramsay, and Anna Brown. Leonard took great joy in his great-grandchildren: Laurel Ketner, Leo Weissman, and Amelia Ketner. He is also survived by many loving relatives, including sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends. Leonard and Hazel enjoyed a special friendship over the years with David and Lestine Hutchens. Together, Leonard and Hazel were stalwarts of the Yadkinville community. They were both heavily involved in their church, First Baptist Church of Yadkinville, where Leonard was a life-long member and sang tenor in the choir for many years. They traveled together extensively and were always eager to play bridge with their many friends. Leonard was proud of being a Mason and was a member of Yadkin Lodge 162 A.F. and A.M. Earlier this year, Leonard was recognized for having completed seventy (70) years as a Mason, the first person in the Yadkin Lodge to achieve that milestone. In recent years, he enjoyed playing rook each week with friends at the Yadkinville Senior Center. Leonard was an avid fan of UNC sports, a voracious reader, and a prodigious worker of crossword puzzles. He always found special peace along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Above all else, Leonard loved his family. He was an exemplary husband and father, serving as a great role model for his own family and for many friends. He took great pride in watching his children and grandchildren participate and excel in the arts, academics, sports, and acts of service. He was a constant presence at music recitals, sporting events, theatrical presentations, dance programs, school grandparents' day events, graduations, and weddings. Known for his great storytelling, dry wit, and infectious laugh, Leonard was a loving patriarch with a huge heart who will be extremely missed by all who knew him. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Yadkinville. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to:

First Baptist Church of Yadkinville, 304 South State Street, Yadkinville, NC 27055;

The Leonard Lee Brown Scholarship Fund in the Department of Economics at UNC-Greensboro, c/o UNCG Advancement Operations, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402; or

Masonic Home for Children at Oxford (888-505-4357 or mcc-oxford.org)

Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Brown Family.