Donnie Ray Brown, age 74, passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at UNC Chapel Hill. Born April 19, 1949 in Nash County he was a son of the late Herbert Hoover and Sadie Bean Brown. He was preceded in death by his sister, Joyce Rhodes. Donnie was a member of the Smithfield Moose Lodge.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 2, 2023 in Church of Faith, 910 Railroad Street, Selma, NC 27576, with Rev. Jeffery Thompson officiating.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Brown; sons, Donnie Jason Brown (Jessica) and Christopher Blake Brown (Karishma); daughter, Valerie Harper(Bobby), all of Archer Lodge; brother, Eugene Brown; sisters, Tanya Thompson (Jeffery), Cheryl Thompson (Roger), and Teresa Wilson (Ray); grandchildren, Chance Harper, Rasheem Dennis, Lexus Dennis, Kinsley Brown, Jaydah Brown, Autumn Brown and Skylar Brown; and great grandchildren, Jack Brown, Mason Leach and Ava Leach.