B.H. Brown, Jr.

   Bedford Horton “B.H.” Brown, Jr., 86, of 319 Water Swamp Road, Sunbury, NC, died Thursday, June 21, 2018 in Sentara Obici Hospital, Suffolk, VA.      Mr. Brown was born in Gates County on May 30, 1932, and was the son of the late Bedford Horton, Sr. and Marietta Spivey Brown. The retired owner of B.H. Brown Insurance Agency, he was a member of the Gates County Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. For many years he and his wife were members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Sunbury, though recently he had been attending Beulah Baptist Church, a homecoming of sense as he was raised in that church as a child. “B.H.” was a recovering alcoholic, had been “dry” since 1972, and through the years had sponsored and encouraged many to attend Alcoholics Anonymous. Another area of selfless giving was to the American Red Cross, as he volunteered for blood drives, and himself had given gallons and gallons of blood. A veteran of the Korean War, he served in the US Air Force, and that love of flying continued for many years as he obtained his private pilot’s license, and spent countless hours shooting aerial photography.      In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dr. Joyce Elliott Brown; a son-in-law, David Klages; and by two sisters, Peggy Brown Byrd and Marjorie Brown Hobbs.      Surviving are his sister, Lois Brown Hofler of Sunbury; his daughter, Margaret Jordan Brown Klages of Suffolk; two step-grandchildren, Joshua Klages and Jordan Klages Molon; a step-great-granddaughter, Ayla Molon; five nieces, Barbara Hofler Thomas, Beverly Hofler Windley, Constance Hofler Sanders, Linda Hofler Algood, and Karen Hobbs Leigh; and a nephew, James Michael Hobbs.      A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. in Beulah Baptist Church, and will be conducted by the Rev. Tom Hall. Friends may join the family in the church social hall immediately following the service. A private inurnment will be in the Memorial Garden at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.      In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Red Cross, at www.redcross.org/donations.      Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, is assisting the family with arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.