Arnold Brown

Marshall James Arnold Brown, Sr., 79, joined the Church Triumphant on February 26, 2017. He passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy Brown and Frances Helen Johnston Brown, and brother John Burgin Brown. Arnold is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Shirley Anne Roland Brown. He has two children, Ella Darlene Grooms and husband Rex of Marshall, and James Arnold Jim Brown, Jr., of Leicester. He has one granddaughter, Dr. Kelly Tennille Grooms and husband George L. Payne, of Louisa, Virginia. He is also survived by his brother, JB Brown and wife Joann, nieces Deanna Parker (Brad), Denise Wright (Kenny), and three great-nieces Heather, Ashley, and Amber. Born in Asheville on March 14, 1937, Arnold was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County. He raised his family in West Asheville and Arden, and moved to the Leicester-Marshall area for retirement. He graduated from Lee Edwards High School in 1955. For the next decade, he worked in the family-owned grocery store, Browns Grocery, and delivered for the Bunny Bread Company. For thirty years he was the owner and operator of Woodland Hills Amoco on Weaverville Highway, retiring in 1995. While living in Arden, he was an active member of Bible Baptist Church, and after retirement he joined Turkey Creek Baptist Church. In recent years, he attended Leicester Baptist Church. Arnold enjoyed NASCAR racing, Duke basketball, hunting, and especially outdoor work such as grass mowing, weed eating, and wood splitting. The funeral service will be held at Turkey Creek Baptist Church (2206 Bear Creek Road, Leicester, NC, 28748) on Thursday, March 2, at 11:00 in the morning, immediately followed by interment in the Turkey Creek Baptist Church cemetery. Visitation will precede the service, beginning at 10:00 A.M., and a meal to which all are invited will follow interment. Pall bearers will be Kenny Wright, Brad Parker, Dee Williams, Rex Ingle, Danny Rhoden, and Steven Marlor. Flowers are welcome, or contributions may be made to the Turkey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.