Roy Leon Brown

“To live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

My father was ushered into the presence of Jesus on the Lord’s Day—Sunday, December 7th. He fought the good fight, he finished the race God assigned to him, and he kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

While we mourn the loss of our hero, we do so with hope and anticipation. Hope—because we know that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Anticipation—because we know we will see him again (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14).

My dad was a loving husband to my mom, Janice, for 60 wonderful years. He was the father of six children—Karen, Jan, Philip, David, Michael, and Timothy. Dad and Mom also have two precious children waiting for them in heaven, as Mom experienced two miscarriages.

All of us carry our own treasured stories about Dad. My memories are of a man who was a devoted husband and absolutely crazy about Mom. Through him, I learned what it truly means for a man to love his wife (Ephesians 5:25). I can honestly say my dad loved my mom more deeply and consistently than anyone I have ever witnessed.

Dad also showed us what it means to love and serve the Lord, and to treasure the local church. My parents encouraged us to be in church nearly every time the doors were open! The very last thing Dad did before he stepped into eternity was to watch church online. He worshiped with his Radiant Church family, and then he said good-bye to this world.

Dad was called into ministry as a young man and served the Lord faithfully in many roles—Senior Pastor, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, Deacon, working with children and students, guest preacher, and more.

Each of us learned a strong work ethic from him. He worked faithfully throughout his career, often close to 60 hours a week, and even set a record of not missing a day for 17 years. His resilience shaped all of us.

If we were to continue writing about my dad, there wouldn’t be enough pages to contain our memories or reflect the depth of our love for him.

Now the call is to us who remain—to run the race set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, as those who have gone before us (the great cloud of witnesses) cheer us on to fulfill God’s calling on each of our lives (Hebrews 12:1–2).

We will be having a special memorial service to honor Dad’s life and legacy this Sunday at Radiant Church. The service will be at 2 p.m. in the worship center, followed by a fellowship reception in the Radiant Café.

In lieu of flowers, you can honor Roy Leon Brown’s life and legacy by making a gift that continues his passion for the Gospel. You may donate to Radiant Church, or you can share Timothy’s book Go After Jesus with someone this Christmas to help spread the hope of Christ even further. Here is the link for the book: https://a.co/d/3jidBg4

The Brown family wants to personally thank each of you for your kind messages and calls. Dad is looking down and smiling also!

Yours truly,

Timothy and the Brown Family

Here’s the formal obituary below:

Roy Leon Brown, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in Asheville, North Carolina. He was born on June 7, 1942, in Surry County, North Carolina, and lived a life marked by love and dedication.

Roy was a devoted husband to his wife, Janice Mathews Brown, with whom he shared 60 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they built a family that filled their lives with joy and cherished memories. Roy was a proud father to his children: Karen Barber and her husband John, Janice Susan Whitney and her husband Robert, Philip Brown, David Brown and his wife Jackie, Michael Brown and his wife Lorraine, and Timothy Brown and his wife Lori. He took immense pride in his role as a grandfather and great-grandfather, leaving behind a legacy of love that includes 24 grand and great-grandchildren who will forever carry his spirit in their hearts.

Born a brother to Dean Brown and Jeanette Chapel, Roy valued family deeply and fostered close ties with his relatives. He is also survived by his nieces and nephew: Stephanie McDuffie, Julia Marion, Mark Brown, and Molly Brown, who will remember him fondly.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Franklin Brown and Florence Cathleen Horton Brown, whose guidance shaped the man he became. He is also reunited in spirit with his sister-in-law, Eleanor Brown, and brother-in-law, Otis, who will be deeply missed by the family.

Throughout his life, Roy exemplified kindness and generosity—traits that endeared him to all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His presence will be sorely missed, but his memory will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of those he touched.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the worship center at Radiant Church, 3839 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, NC 28704, followed by a fellowship reception in the Radiant Café.

In lieu of flowers, you can honor Roy Leon Brown’s life and legacy by making a gift that continues his passion for the Gospel. You may donate to Radiant Church, or you can share Timothy’s book Go After Jesus with someone this Christmas to help spread the hope of Christ even further. Here is the link for the book: https://a.co/d/3jidBg4

Anders Rice & Roper Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to serve the Brown family.