James “Marvin” Brown, 85, passed away on December 28, 2025, following a cardiac event at his home 5 days earlier. He received the best care we could have ever hoped for in the Cardiac ICU at Novant/Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends.  

He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Zelma, and younger brother, William. 

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Diana “Dina” Brown; his daughters, Melinda (Ray) King and Vanessa Vasbinder; his granddaughters, Kelsey Holland and Claudia and Leah Vasbinder; and his precious pups, Ziggy and Rufus and Alley Cat.

Marvin was born on January 15, 1940, in Ramseur, North Carolina. He learned the value of hard work at a young age from his parents, which he exemplified every day of his life. 

Marvin and his first wife, Grace, moved to Charlotte in 1958, so Marvin could work at Cyanamid and pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Belmont Abbey College. It was in Charlotte that Marvin started three businesses: Chematron, Textile Wax, and Precision Yarns. He loved starting, running, and owning Precision Yarns because of his wonderful employees and customers, many of whom became lifelong friends. Though he enjoyed his work, producing polypropylene yarn for the textile industry, he did not regret selling Precision Yarns in 1998 and retiring in 1999. He was proud of his two beautiful daughters and the joy that came with becoming a grandfather to three amazing granddaughters. After retirement, Marvin built a beautiful home on property that adjoined his Dad’s (William’s) land in Ramseur. He enjoyed every minute of that and cherished the time he spent there and all the weekends when the granddaughters jumped at the chance for a weekend in the country; there were many! Those grands sure put joy in his heart and a smile on his face. The sky was the limit where they were concerned. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, dog dad and friend to so many. He loved all his extended family, key-lime pie, Showmars, breakfast at Le Peep, and listening to the Statler Brothers!

A celebration of his life is planned for 1 PM on Saturday, January 3rd, at Pleasant Ridge Christian Church (1426 Pleasant Ridge Rd, Ramseur, NC 27316); the church Marvin began attending with his family as a child, and where his parents and brother are buried. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Toby-Anna's Guardian Angel Rescue, where Marvin and Diana adopted both Ziggy and Rufus (Cash App: $tobyannas, Venmo: Sylvia Metz @Tobyannas), or the charity of your choice.