KILMARNOCK—James Steven “Steve” Brown, 76, of Kilmarnock passed away peacefully at home on November 21, 2023, with his beloved wife Margaret at his side.
The third of five children, Steve was born February 5, 1947, to Fletcher Lee Brown Jr. and Marion Pugh Brown. He was a graduate of Lancaster High School in Kilmarnock and attended Richmond Business College in Richmond.
Steve began his working career as a correctional officer at the Virginia State Penitentiary known as The Wall in Richmond and later worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles on Richmond’s Southside. Wanting to return to Lancaster County, he transferred to the DMV travel team that serviced the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, Westmoreland, Gloucester and Mathews, and the Town of Colonial Beach. He retired as manager of the Kilmarnock DMV CSC Office in May 2003 after a 33.5-year career.
Steve and Margaret married in 1978 and resided in Kilmarnock with their daughter, Kelley. Steve loved working outside where he maintained an immaculate yard and was an avid gardener who readily shared his harvest.
In a word, Steve was kind and took great joy in serving his community which drove so many of his pursuits. His passion was helping people, whether it was through his church, his work, or simply assisting anyone in need.
As a teen, he was too young to join the rescue squad, so Steve co-founded the Kilmarnock Junior Rescue Squad with his best friend Calvin Luckham. He later served as a member of the Kilmarnock Rescue Squad, the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department, and was a member of the Lancaster County Jaycees. As a member of the White Stone Church of the Nazarene, Steve volunteered with the Community Impact Ministry where he was known as the “Potato Man” for the community breakfast.
Steve was predeceased by his parents.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Margaret Harvey Brown; daughter Marian Kelley B. Johnson (Jaret) and grandson Wallace Henry Johnson of Richmond; sister, Jo Lee Brown Kenney (Charles) of Richmond; brother, Fletcher Lee Brown III, sisters, Marion Christine Brown Miller and Patricia Ann Brown, all of Kilmarnock; cousins, Polly Hinto and Flora Mae Saunders; godson, Lt. Benjamin Robert Hamilton Nickerson USN, currently stationed in Japan; and several nieces and nephews.
A public memorial service will be held at White Stone Church of the Nazarene on January 27, 2024 (time to be announced later) with private burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Kilmarnock.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to White Stone Church of the Nazarene – Community Impact Ministry, P.O. Box 1270, White Stone, VA 22578.
