Franklin Delano Brown

Franklin ("Frank") Delano Brown, Sr., Veteran Law Enforcement officer of 38 years, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2015 surrounded by his family. Frank was born on July 13, 1933 to the late C. Arthur and Ruby L. Brown, and he grew up in Bailey, NC on his family's farm. He graduated from Bailey High School in 1952 and went on to attend Atlantic Christian College. Frank Brown devoted the majority of his adult life to public service. He proudly served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict. When his tour was complete, he rejoined his family in Bailey to work on the family farm and in the family business. Upon his father's death, he was appointed to serve in his father's position as Deputy Sheriff with the Nash County Sheriff's Department from 1956 to 1965. In 1965, Frank became a Parole Officer for the State of NC, serving both Nash and Edgecombe counties. In 1974, Frank was elected Sheriff of Nash County. Sheriff Brown was elected to the position of Nash County Sheriff for five consecutive terms, spanning the better part of three decades. He retired in December of 1994. During his tenure as Sheriff, Sheriff Brown served as the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary/Treasurer of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association. Among his many accomplishments as Sheriff, in 1986 he, along with other NC Sheriffs helped lead a statewide effort to bring about legislation that would provide eligible sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina a special separation allowance upon retirement until reaching age 62. The special separation allowance legislation became law on January 1, 1987. He also led a statewide effort to create specialized training for deputies in which their duties were differentiated from those of other law enforcement officers. As a result, Sheriff Brown was responsible for a new statewide training program that became administered through the NC Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission. Frank was a long time member of Sunset Avenue Baptist Church, where he served as an usher as his health permitted. He was also a member of the Breakfast Optimist Club and the American Legion. Frank is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, Doris Boone Brown, his two sons, Franklin Delano Brown, Jr. (Gina) of Nashville, and Scott Boone Brown (Kim) of Winterville, NC; his three grandchildren, Kennedy Kathryn Brown of Nashville, NC, Morgan May and Nicolas Brown of Winterville, NC. Frank is survived by a special brother, Doug Brown of Wilson, NC; sisters-in-law, Annaleen Brown, Adele Brown and LaVerne Brown; brothers-in-law, Albert Boone (Pat), Phil Boone (Carol), and Joe Shearon. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as many good friends throughout Nash County and the State of North Carolina. In addition to his parents, Frank was preceded in death by his brothers, B.W. Brown, Charles Brown, William Louis Brown and James Brown; his sisters, Marjorie Finch and Mary Rose Tillery; his beloved in-laws, Eddie and Sadie Boone, and his sister-in-law, Nancy Shearon. A celebration of life service will be held in his memory on Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 2:00 pm at Sunset Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. Robin Fisher officiating. Burial to follow the service at Forest Hill Cemetery, Nashville, NC. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 North Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mr. Brown's memory to Sunset Avenue Baptist Church, 3732 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or to The Alzheimer's Association, Eastern NC Chapter, 3739 National Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612. Arrangements are entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share your memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services 1130 N. Winstead Ave. Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-451-8800 --> | Saturday 2/21, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Service Sunset Avenue Baptist Church 3732 Sunset Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-443-2531 --> | Sunday 2/22, 2:00 pm Cemetery Forest Hill Cemetery 350 North 1st Street, Ext. Nashville, NC 27856