Wayne Arnold Brown, age 91, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday morning, August 18, 2026, in Ripley, Mississippi.

Funeral services for Wayne will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in the Martin Willingham Memorial Chapel of Wells Funeral Home, with a private interment to follow the service. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service.

Wayne was born on October 16, 1934, in Walnut, Mississippi, to the late Pearl Albert Brown and Nevels Rowland Brown. He spent 40 years working for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Memphis, where he served as a traffic manager.

For 50 years, Wayne faithfully served as a Minister of Music at churches in Mississippi and Tennessee. The majority of his music ministry was spent at Speedway Terrace Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee; Gath Baptist Church in McMinnville, Tennessee; and, most recently, Sardis First Baptist Church in Sardis, Mississippi. His faith and love of music were an important part of his life. Wayne had a special love for Southern Gospel music and founded and led Anchored Quartet in McMinnville, Tennessee. He also enjoyed crossword puzzles, fishing, and western movies.

Wayne is survived by his daughter, Sherrye Brown of Franklin, Tennessee; granddaughter, Kristi (Jeremy) Wilson of Franklin, Tennessee; three great-grandchildren, Eli, Grant, and Anna Wilson; and two siblings, Jerrie Mathis (Terry) and Jack Brown (Karlene), both of Walnut, Mississippi.

Along with his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joyce Nell Brown.