John Horace Brown

Mr. Brown was born to the late Frank H. and Iva Louise Brown on October 13, 1928 in Campville, Alachua County, Fla. Following service in the Pacific and honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Mr. Brown attended the University of Washington, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia. Mr. Brown was employed by Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph for over 34 years, where he rose to manage all corporate communications for North Carolina in their computer operations center. Mr. Brown was a devout Christian and welcomed the opportunity to speak the good news of Christ’s word, but never tried to impose his opinions on others. Mr. Brown attended West End Baptist in Atlanta, Ga., where he met and married the former Miss Doris Daniel. Mr. Brown organized a Boy Scout troop for the church, and was involved in teaching youth Sunday school. Mr. Brown moved his family to Charlotte in 1964 and continued to teach Sunday school in various capacities, including youth and senior adults at Providence Baptist Church for over 40 years. He was also involved with the Charlotte Southern Lions Club for many years, and was a past president.

Mr. Brown enjoyed a lifelong love of restoring antique cars, and was a founding member and past president of the Piedmont Carolinas Region of the Early Ford V-8 Club. He also was a past president of the Hornet’s Nest Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America.

Mr. Brown was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Doris Brown; son, Eric Daniel Brown; son-in-law, Henry W. “Billy” Barksdale, Jr.; sister, Thetis Lee; and brothers, Allen L. Brown and Gordon H. Brown.

Mr. Brown is survived by his daughter, Teresa Barksdale Hartman and husband Bill; son, Stephen C. Brown and wife Meredith; grandchildren, Katie Cortes and husband “CJ”, Sara Price and husband Phillip, Matthew Barksdale, Julie Brown, Jonathan Brown, Kaitlyn Brown and Allison Brown; great-grandchildren, Caleb Cortes, Landon Cortes and Claire Price; brothers, Frank H. Brown, Jr., Glen M. Brown, Nathan R. Brown and William F. “Bill” Brown; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition, Mr. Brown leaves behind Betty Coulter “Nana”, who is so very special to us, and his close friend of many decades, Sam Alexander of Matthews, N.C.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:45 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at Sharon Memorial Park.

The family would like to express our heart-felt thanks to Jon Ostrander for over 16 years of assistance during our most difficult times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Old Providence Baptist Church, 9316 NW County Road 245, Lake Butler, Florida 32054.