Rev. James Gregory Brown, Sr., died Saturday, July 20, 2019 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Funeral service will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. at New Smith Grove Baptist Church with family visitation at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be Monday at 10:00 a.m. at Salisbury National Cemetery with full military honors.

He was born April 4, 1948 to Samuel Brown and Cloree Simpson Banks in Rowan County. He retired from Philip Morris USA. He was an associated minister at New Smith Grove Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather who raised him, Aaron Banks and three sisters: Barbara Banks, Paulette Ellis and Linda Whitaker.

Rev. Brown leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Shelia King Brown of the home; a son, Gregory Brown, Jr.; a daughter, Shana Brown; a grandson, Jordan Mitchell; a brother, Edy Charles Banks; two sisters, Claudia (Kenneth) Hargrave and Elaine Holmes and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives and friends.