James "Jim" Irvin Brown Jr.

Mr. Brown was born January 18, 1954, in Guilford County, North Carolina, son of the late James Irvin Brown, Sr. and Lou Jean Allen Brown. He was employed as Director of Agronomy at Ocean Ridge Plantation, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. Jim served in the United States Marine Corps from August 1972 to August 1977. He was soon deployed to Vietnam in the middle of the war. He served as a Staff Sergeant, Combat Instructor and also received medals for M-16 Rifle Sharpshooter, National Defense Service, and Good Conduct. Jim was an outstanding high school athlete, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball. He was also an avid sportsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, and golf. He was also an exceptional golfer and began gambling on the golf course by the time he was 13 years old. The guys called him “Popeye” due to his huge forearms and thick, stocky thighs. At that young age he could already hit the ball 300 yards. Jim often played with many of the regular old-time golfers, including several of his uncles, and always very much enjoyed winning against them. He was very competitive and despised to lose at anything. But his most favorite enjoyment in the world came from spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two daughters, Katherine Caulfield and Jennifer Speck.

Survivors include his wife, companion, and best friend of over 37 years, Kimberly Jean Brown of the home; two daughters, Lauren O’Brien and husband Obie of Franklinville, North Carolina and Leslie Coats and husband Tim of Trinity, North Carolina; a son, Brian Caulfield of Shallotte, North Carolina; nine grandchildren include Rachel Speck, Lillie O’Brien, Emma James O’Brien, Obie J. O’Brien, Rhys Coats, Rowen Coats, Alivia Coats, Savannah Caulfield and David Caulfield; one brother, Boyd Brown and wife Elizabeth of Thomasville; sister, Deborah Sears and her late husband Roger of Trinity, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel.

Online condolences may be made at www.shallottefunerals.com

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel