Leighton Pegram Brown
April 19, 2026
CHARLOTTE – Leighton Pegram Brown, age 94, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, April 19, 2026. He was born on July 31,1931 to Loy Wilson and Feriba (Pegram) Brown.
Leighton grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina in the Steele Creek Community. He was a graduate of Berryhill High School. While singing in the church choir, he met and fell in love with Martha Ann Patterson. She had a twin sister, Mary Lee and on October 15,1955, at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC they had a double wedding ceremony.
Leighton served in the Army National Guard and attained the rank of Master Sergeant. He became an accountant and worked for various companies throughout his career. Leighton and Martha loved to travel. They visited all 50 states, 13 countries and 7 provinces of Canada, during their 70 happy years of marriage.
Leighton served as an Elder and Deacon at Steele Creek Presbyterian. He was involved in various community activities throughout his life, such as Habitat for Humanity.
Leighton is survived by his children, Anita (Brown) McQuillen and husband, Marc of Rock Hill, SC, Gerald Brown of Charlotte, NC and Sandra (Brown) Hovis of Bluefield, WV; grandsons, Chaz Hovis and Jake Hovis of Charlotte, NC and his sister, Roberta (Brown) Harris of Indian Land, SC,
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at Pleasant Hill, 15000 York Road, Charlotte, NC. The family will receive friends following the service at the church.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.
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As a child, I would spend one week each summer at Martha and Leighton’s house. The times spent with my cousins, aunt and uncle remain some of my fondest memories. When the Brown family was building their house at Lake Wylie, they had moved in as the men (Leighton, Granddaddy Patterson, Sid, Jackie, etc.) continued to finish working on the home. I happened to be visiting when Uncle Leighton and another gentleman were completing the front porch. I remember Leighton using a hoe to spread concrete after it had become dark. All the kids were running downstairs to brush teeth before bed. We saw something brown on the floor and some child’s voice yelled, “Snake!” A few moments later I saw our hero bound down the stairs with his hoe in hand! Leighton flipped a chair over to find a young Cottonmouth in the den and used his hoe as a weapon against the slithery intruder!
This young girl felt safe and secure again thanks to the bravery of her fearless uncle!
I always loved and admired Leighton Brown but that night he truly was my hero!
Thank you, Leighton P. Brown, for being such a wonderful man. You will be missed but I’m comforted knowing you are with your bride and with so many who loved you! -
Uncle Leighton and Aunt Martha drove across the state of North Carolina to attend my and Deborah’s wedding in 1977. Because of this we were always very close to them and very appreciative of their kindness. In 1963 they accommodated me and my younger brother Gary while our older brother Ed raced in the Soapbox Derby in Ohio. We had a great time and years later I still fondly remember those days.
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