Reverend Phyllis R. Brown, 71 of Charlotte, passed away on Monday December 07, 2020 at Levine & Dickson Harris Hospice-Huntersville. Reverend Phyllis Renae Brown was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on January 8, 1949 to Doreatha Polk Dunn and the late JB Brown. She attended Billingsville Elementary and along with her sister became one of the 1st African Americans to integrate Myers Park High school in 1963.

Rev Brown then moved to California where she spent the next 18 years. She attended Fremont High and pursued her passion for dance at Mills College in Oakland California, then went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior from the University of San Francisco.

In 1982, she moved to Bermuda and married Rudolph Wade. She gave her life to Christ early on and at this time, recommitted and joined Mount Zion AME Church and began the 1st dance ministry on the island. At that time, it was not permitted in most churches because there was no understanding of liturgical dance, but Rev. Brown was a worshipper and this was just the beginning of her dance ministry. She choreographed and taught dance for a number of years and worked with several AME churches on the island by incorporating dance in special programs during Christmas and Easter. She was the choreographer for an acclaimed play "Man Our Brother," written and directed by Dr. Shangri-La Durham Thompson, which ran for several weeks on the island. Rev. Brown was involved in several areas of ministry in Bermuda. She was invited to sing and dance at different churches, and was also a part of a street ministry group that took the gospel to the streets, evenings and weekends. She could also be found visiting the prison.

Rev Brown moved to Atlanta, GA in 1994 and worked at Spelman College as administrative assistant to Dr. Jonetta Cole. She also worked as a paralegal for awhile. She joined Antioch AME Church in Stone Mountain and was an active participant on the praise team, choir, and also served as the 1st Liturgical Dance Director. As director of the Liturgical Dance Ministry, she hosted a dance extravaganza where 11 churches participated in the program. She continued her love for singing by auditioning and joining the soprano section of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

She earned her Master's Degree in School Guidance Counselling at Cambridge College and soon after, a Master's Degree in Divinity. She accepted her call to preach and studied under Rev. David Trott Sr. as she prepared for her ordination. She then became Associate Pastor at Christ Community AME Church in Clarkston, Ga (Pastor C O Adams, Jr.) She also worked at Stone Mountain Middle, Cedar Grove Middle, and Appletree Learning Academy.
Rev Brown, known by her closest family as just Phyllis, was a cancer survivor, a published author, an enthusiastic basketball fan, she could sing, dance, sew, preach, and bake a mean sweet potato pie. She loved to laugh and to travel and is loved from the west coast to the east and beyond. She did not hold her tongue and whatever she put her mind to, she accomplished. She never met a stranger and would open up her home to anyone in need. She would fuss at you but then she would pray for you, and you would know you were covered by the blood of Jesus. God blessed her with the gift of sight through dreams and you were blessed if you got that call from her saying, "I had a dream about you." One of her favorite scriptures was Philipians 4:6,7.

She will always be lovingly remembered by her two daughters Sannyu Carlton (Patrick) and Shani Wade, honorary sons Tory Adams, Devoris Gilmore (Semuriel), her mother Doreatha Polk Dunn, her sister Velories Figures, her brother Richard Brown, 10 grandchildren Yhana, Kaleb, Kamille, Chase, Kennedi, Connor, Khanai, Tory Jr., James, and Will, her nieces Damali, Imani, Niamah, Sherilyn, Allana, Aisha, Ziafra, Imari, nephews Ryan and Allan, special great niece Naimah-Joy, special long time friend Pat Carter, and a host of great nieces, nephews and Godchildren in Bermuda.

But if there were anything that she wanted you to remember about her is that she was a true worshipper and she loved God.