James "Jay" Walter Brown, Jr.
August 16, 1929 ~ January 25, 2018
Resided in:
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville Butterfly Trail
James “Jay” Walter Brown, Jr.
Asheville- James “Jay” Walter Brown Jr., 88, of Asheville, died Thursday, January 25, 2018 at Mission Hospital.
Born in Simpsonville, SC, he was the husband of Betty (Howell) Brown of Asheville, and the son of the late James Walter Brown Sr. and Kathryn (McAbee) Brown. He was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Whisonant
.
Jay was a member of Biltmore Church where he attended Ed Wilkie’s Sunday School class. He was a former deacon and active as a greeter.
A jokester who never met a stranger, Jay will be fondly remembered for his wonderful personality and for his love of his church, the beach, and his dog, Charlie Brown.
In addition to his wife of 70 years, Jay is survived by 2 daughters: Kathy Conley (Carl) of Asheville and Jayne Brown of Arden; 2 grandchildren: Kia Cook (Briggs) and Jeff Conley; and 5 great-grandchildren: Andrew, Sarah, Sophie Kate, Eli, and Henry James.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at Biltmore Church Terrace Hall, 35 Clayton Rd., Arden, NC 28704 with Rev. Sam McLamb officiating. Family and friends will be received one hour prior to the service at the church.
Memorial contributions in Jay’s memory can be made to the church benevolence fund at the address above, or to Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, 256 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville, NC 28786. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.
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To the Brown family: Betty, Cathy and Jane. Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers. ‘Jay,’ was always a ray of sunshine, and yes, he never met a stranger. We will never forget our trips to the seacoast.
Tommy and Jessie Koontz
We love you and will be praying for the family during this time. We will always have fond memories of Uncle Jay.
Dear Betty and family, you all are in our thoughts and prayers. As we think of Jay, he is remembered as a man of great faith and dedication to both church and family. We always loved being greeted with beautiful smiles and hugs as we entered through the Brown’s door (as we called it) at Biltmore Baptist. Your love for each other was so evident and inspired so many.
Praying that your hearts will be filled with precious memories in the days ahead. With love and sympathy,
It is with great sadness that I read of the passing of Jay Brown. Our family and the Browns were great friends for most of our school and Church years. I know he will be missed greatly. I imagine our Daddy was there to greet him at Heaven’s Gate!
Betty and family, We are sorry to hear of Jay’s passing.
We will pray for your family and pray that God will be with you. He was a special man. I don’t ever remember seeing him without a smile on his face even though I’m sure there were times when he didn’t feel like it. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Betty & Family. So sorry to read about Jay. He was such a fine person. He will be missed by all who knew him. My Prayers are with all of you.
Mr Brown was always very good to me. I’ve known him most of my life . He was a very good man. I can still remember my Dad chuckling about ‘Jay Bird’ as he called him, when Mr Brown played a joke on someone. My Dad had a favorite story of how Mr Brown let me win a prize of live rabbits. Jayne, we have been friends nearly all of our lives and I am very sorry for your loss along with the rest of the Brown family. I know all of you will miss him terribly. I’m thinking of you all.
Dear Betty and family – our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. He was a wonderful person and will be missed.
God has chosen a jewel in every way. Oh what a gentleman, caring, considerate, loving you always knew when you were in Jay’s presence you were special. You knew that he was a child of God by his all caring and love far everyone. Bud and I had a special place in our hearts for Jay and Betty.
Betty, You and Jay were always smiling and you could feel the love between the two of you. Such a caring man and you knew he loved you and his family.
I will always remember when I was involved in a wreck leaving the church at
Biltmore you and Jay were the first to come to my car to see if I was okay.
I am so saddened to hear of Jay’s death but know, without a doubt, that he
IS in Heaven with no more pain or suffering.
I pray for God’s peace and strength for you and your family during these difficult days.
Betty Ponder (sister to Linda Pressley and Eddie McCraw)
Sorry to hear of Jays passing. He will be missed. We will take care of the greeters door that Jay and Betty served for so many years. Blessings to all the family. Ben and Sharon Norton
We are thing about you with sympathy and prayers. We always appreciated Jay and Betty and beautiful flower arrangements designed by Betty and delivered by Jay.
Mrs. Brown Kathy and Jayne,
I am so sorry about Mr. Brown’s passing. I have so many fond memories of your family and friendship during high school. I have you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Much love,
Cindy Oxley Zimmerman
Betty, I am so sorry to hear of jays passing on, he was a pleasure to be around and see on a regular basis. I wish you and your family only the best during this time of loss. May god bless all of you, Doug Caldwell ( coward wholesale)
Jayne, I am so sorry to hear about your daddy. Please know you and your family are in my prayers.
Betty, you are on my heart as I grieve with you! You and Jay were sunshine to me. I shall always smile when I think of Jay kissing my cheek each time we met. May God bless you sweet friend.
Dear Betty and Family,
Mom and I were so sorry to hear of Jay’s passing, but, rejoice with you that he no longer suffers and is with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! May He give you His grace and strength for this time and in the days to come.
Mom remembers you both fondly and as the first to greet her and Nancy Evans when they first came to Biltmore. She, also, is thankful for your gift of friendship and love.
Our love and prayers,
Gretchen Wirtz Williams and Gladys Wirtz