Nancy Faye Brown

Nancy Faye Hoffman Brown, age 88, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, August 31, 2025. She was born June 15, 1937, in Cheraw, South Carolina to Carroll James "Kirby" Hoffman, and Cornealius "Nealy," Creech Bennett. She had two older siblings, Fannie Elizabeth and Henry Kirby. They lived in Cheraw, and in 1940 the family moved to Tarboro, NC. After her father secured a job with the Newport News Shipyard, the family moved to Copeland Park.

Faye enrolled in a local school where she met her lifelong friend, Mary Lou (Walters) Neil. Later they both attended Hampton High School. Faye sang in the school choir and enjoyed art and home economics. She loved dancing and through her high school years, she attended dances in HHS and NNHS.

It was at one of these dances, she met her first husband, CB Beach. She had three children, Kurt, Lynn and Eva. After the marriage ended, she took a job at Maida, and along with her children, moved into her parents’ home in downtown Hampton. Soon she met her future husband, Sgt. Harry Brown, newly stationed at Langley AFB.

Faye and Harry were married at City Hall in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. They moved onto the Langley base along with her three children, and soon, Jan Rene (Nay Nay) joined the family. His service relocated them from Langley to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and overseas to Wiesbaden, Germany.

Faye’s family was transferred back to Langley in the late summer of 1969. They built a house the following year in the Buckroe area of Hampton to raise the family. They enjoyed spending time with neighbors, establishing dear friendships with the Prays, Petreys, VanHoudts, Shaffers, Greens and many more "Demetro Drive" families. Faye loved having her neighbors and friends over and was known for her hospitality.

Faye welcomed everyone that stopped by with a smile and a question, "are you hungry and do you want something to drink?" All were welcome. Occasionally her father or friends would stop by with their fresh catch, so she would clean and cook whatever they brought, serving it with sweet, iced tea or a cold beer. Faye was an excellent cook, always eager to experiment and try something new.

Faye learned how to make egg rolls from Yoshi, Wiener Schnitzel from Inga and her famous southern cooking from her mother. From grilling steaks to frying fish or chicken, it was made with LOVE and served with plenty of side dishes and veggies. Anyone that stopped by her home, always left with a full stomach.

Faye was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Phoebus, and the Moose Lodge in Hampton, where she volunteered for many charitable events. She assisted area churches with fundraisers and tag sales and became a member at the Bethany United Methodist Church later in life.

Faye excelled at bowling and played on several women's league teams. She, along with her husband and daughter, bowled the lanes at Fort Monroe and Langley -- all decked out in their bowling gear using custom bowling balls! Faye enjoyed fishing from local piers, going to the beach, crabbing for "jimmies,” and shopping. An excellent mom, she would drive the kids to the Fort Monroe swimming almost every day of the summer and then back again to take them home. She loved her pets, and had many fur babies through the years, her cats Ming, Sheba, Mac, Nico and Nadia, and her doggies, Megan and Heidi.

After her husband passed away, Faye took a few sea cruises, and visited friends far away. She would drive to the Outer Banks to stay with her daughters or take a road trip with her sister to her hometown to see old friends and family. Her vanity plate was "Go Fay Go," and she got it done in her Honda CRV. Her relaxing hobbies were knitting, crocheting, painting with watercolors, and hanging out crafting Christmas ornaments with Heidi. She also enjoyed reading the Sunday paper, checking out the sales flyers and doing word puzzles.

She is survived by her children, Kurt (Kathie), Eva, and Rene, her grandchildren Joy (Josh) and Kyle (Caroline), and great granddaughter, Charlotte, and her sister Fannie and her family. Faye was preceded in life by her parents Kirby and Nealy, husband(s) Harry and CB, brother Henry, daughter Lynn, niece Karen, and grandson Kurt Aaron. She also leaves behind her dear friend, Mary Lou and several other friends that will miss her.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the VFW, in Phoebus or a charity of their choice. The family wishes to thank the staff at Sentara Hospital, and its Hospice division, for their care and support.

A public visitation for Nancy will be held Thursday, September 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home, 2551 North Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666, followed by a celebration of life from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.