John W. Brown, 89, passed away at 9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, in Florence, South Carolina.

John was born in Brownwood, Texas, on May 10, 1932. He graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood where he was drum major of the marching band. He met his beloved wife, Charlotte, who was a majorette in the band.

After graduating, he had a long career as a high school band director in several towns including Wills Point and Malakoff, Texas. There he shared his love of music and bands with many students.

John’s love of music extended beyond high school to church music. He was an active member of the Baptist church and served the church as music director, most notably at the First Baptist Church Wills Point, Texas.

John was also a family man who taught children, siblings, nieces and nephews to water ski in the summer, then drive the family to the top of the mountains of New Mexico to have adventures on the snow.

John’s love of family, his wholehearted, unquestioned support for friends and family, and his silly jokes will be missed by all the lives he touched.

John is survived by his wife, Charlotte; children, Sharri Duncan of Florence and Kalah Brown of Seattle, and his grandchildren, John Duncan of Charleston and Emma (Andrew) Nixon of Harleysville, Pennsylvania.