Reverend Dr. Dwayne Christian Brown, Sr., son of the late Rogers Brown, Jr. and the late Irene Vashti Burns-Brown, passed away at the age of 67.
He was born in Miami, FL on March 14, 1959 as one of seven children. As a lifelong educator, he dedicated his life to serving his community in mind, body, and spirit. After graduating from Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology to study Nuclear Engineering. After serving as a summer missionary in a Chicago, Illinois neighborhood, he transferred to North Park University and Theological Seminary to earn a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics. While continuing his mission work in Chicago, he helped found an inner-city church. He then continued his education to earn a master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley. Later, he returned to Miami, FL where he attended the University of Miami, Miami, FL in a doctoral program in the Department of Mathematics. As a Ph.D student, he taught at Miami-Dade Junior College, taught mathematics lessons at an area prison, and directed an African-American student program at the University of Miami. There, he met Banita White of Rock Hill, SC, and they were united in marriage on August 12th, 1989.
In 1999, he completed his educational pursuits when he earned a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from the University of South Carolina. His education career included teaching Mathematics at York Technical College, Winthrop University, and finally the University of South Carolina at Lancaster where he organized summer STEM and Arts and Science camps, as well as SAT/ACT Preparation classes for youth throughout York and Lancaster counties. He has volunteered his time to support numerous organizations in the region, including faculty advisor for the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity at Winthrop University, the Rock Hill Commission for Children and Youth, S.C. Department of Education Title I Schoolwide Support Team, the Teacher Licensure Steering Committee, the Rock Hill School District Three Strategic Planning Committee and its Task Force for Staff Development. He was a former board member of the March of Dimes, and member of the Central City Optimist Club. Dwayne was ordained as a minister in 1989, serving as interim pastor and deacon for numerous churches and ministries in the area.
He is preceded in death by his siblings Rogerene Novette, Charles Derrell, Farstaire Quintin, and Pareese Rogers Brown. He is survived by his wife, Banita White Brown; five children, Amanda Jessica Kendall-Brown, Dwayne Christian Brown, Jr. (Bethany), Kristen Amelia Brown (Ian Watt), Anita Helene Brown, and Nathaniel Elliott Brown (Melissa Stamp); four grandchildren, Luther Banks Brown, Ruth Evelyn Brown, Julia Faith Brown, and Virginia Laura Brown and a fifth grandchild to come; three sisters, Yeolonda Anthonette “Penny” Brown, Traci Brown-Bailey, and Ciara Nicole Brown-Humes; his father-in-law (Rev. Walter Banks White); and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
The funeral arrangements are scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Catawba Baptist Church, 1450 Anderson Rd S, Rock Hill, SC 29730.
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net