Thomas Clayton Brown

SUMMERFIELD-Thomas Clayton ""Tommy"" Brown, 56, departed from this world Tuesday, December 30, 2014 after his courageous battle with cancer.
Tom certainly lived a most productive, interesting, and unique life, as he was gifted in many areas. In childhood and early adulthood, Tom lived in the Oak Ridge community where he developed a love for farming, particularly the production of tobacco. From those beginnings he became interested in tobacco marketing, eventually leading to a career as a tobacco auctioneer. He sold tobacco for 20 seasons, working on flue-cured markets in Stoneville, Madison, Burlington, Mebane, and Mt. Airy. He also sold burley tobacco in Weber City and Abingdon, Virginia, as well as working three seasons in Ripley, Ohio. In later years, Tom helped out with tobacco auction reenactments at the NC State Fair and Duke Homestead.
As Tom was always one to stay busy, he worked off seasons in the petroleum industry, for several years in home delivery, but later on as a commercial transport driver. He worked for Berico Fuels of Greensboro, and later for Rentz-Eden Oil of Reidsville.
In his mid-thirties, Tom sensed the Lord's call to Christian ministry. He attended Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute part-time, taking all available classes in sermon preparation and delivery. Later, he attended Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest and earned the Associate of Divinity degree. He served Southern Baptist churches in Reidsville and Louisburg, and most recently served as the interim pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, ironically where he was baptized at age 13. Tom had a great passion for preaching God's Word, believing the Bible to be inerrant and infallible, as he faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Tom loved many sports, but his passion was baseball. He played on several amateur teams over the years, as well as umpiring, and later, for several years coached in youth leagues. Whether playing, umpiring, coaching, or just being a fan, he was truly a student of the game. He loved the Red Sox and the Braves, and was also an ardent supporter of the NC State Wolfpack.
Tom loved running, fishing, and reading, and also had a great love for US history. However, his greatest passion, besides serving the Lord, was spending time with his family. His beloved wife of 33 years, Teresa was his constant companion and greatest supporter in life and ministry. He was also greatly blessed by his three children and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas F. Brown and his brother, Rick Brown, both of Oak Ridge.
Surviving are his wife, Teresa Farrington Brown; daughters, Lauren Shannahan (Jonathan) and Meredith Brown; son, Luke Brown; granddaughters, Olivia and Miriam Shannahan; mother, Carolyn Clayton Brown; sister, Sandra Smith (Tom); and numerous nieces and nephews.
A service worshipping the Lord and celebrating Tom's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 4, 2015 at Lawndale Baptist Church with Reverend Anthony Clemmons and Dr. Joe Giartelli officiating. Burial will follow at Union Grove Baptist Church cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel.
The family would like to thank the staff of 3 East at Wesley Long Hospital, as well as Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro for their kind and compassionate care. A very special thanks goes to Dr. Peter Ennever for his care and support throughout Tom's illness.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405 or Lawndale Baptist Church's Feeding the 5000 program, 3505 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro, NC 27408.


Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

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