Daniel Lee Brawley

Daniel Lee Brawley of Wilmington, North Carolina passed away on August 2, 2026, at the age of 84. Dan was born in Rocky Mount on March 31, 1942, to Reid McNeely Brawley and Rosa Mae Haynes Brawley. Dan attended Myers Park High School, UNC Chapel Hill, and UNC Chapel Hill Law School. Upon graduation he moved to Wilmington where he practiced law for 58 years.

Dan passed the NC Bar in 1967 and was recognized for his legal achievements including, Best Lawyers in America, Legal Elite Hall of Fame, Top 100 Lawyers in NC, and North Carolina Super Lawyers. Dan produced an instructional golf video for Junior golfers that was recognized by Golf Magazine as one the top instructional videos of the year. He was appointed as a visiting law professor at Nicolas Copernicus University in Torun, Poland where he taught in 2006. He also served as the Chairman of the Boards of the Cape Fear Museum, American Red Cross, and the Southeastern US Admiralty Law Institute. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Deacons at St. Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church, and former President of Cape Fear Country Club.

When he wasn’t practicing law or spending time with family, you could usually find him on the golf course. In a cashmere sweater.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents and brother Reid Haynes Brawley of Charlotte. He is survived by his wife of 47 years Ann Holcombe Brawley, son Daniel Lee Brawley, Jr. of Wilmington, daughter Haynes Brawley Paschall (Michael) of Charlotte, and grandchildren Hannah, Alice, and Alexander Paschall. He is also survived by three stepchildren: Jack Redhead, Robert Redhead and Mary Shirah, nephews Kirk Brawley and Chris Brawley, first cousins Walter Dalton and Laura Neely, and a host of Crouch, Shull, Brawley and Haynes cousins.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Cucalorus Film Foundation (cucalorus.org), 815 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401.