Mr. Robert William Brown was born October 20, 1941 in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the son of the late Willie and Ethel Brown Pough and was reared in the home of his paternal grandmother, the late Mrs.  Lizzie Rhodes.

For all of his life, he was affectionately known as “Bobby Brown”. Bobby grew up in the Ward One Community of Columbia and attended the Richland District One schools in that area, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School. He had very fond memories of that community and the cohesiveness felt by the residents who lived there. It was like one big family.

After graduating from high school, Bobby started working for the PYA Company, which was located in the shadow of Williams-Brice Stadium on Shop Road during the early 1960s. He left PYA after a few years and entered the United States Army, serving at Fort Riley, Kansas. Upon returning to civilian life, he began working for South Carolina Electric & Gas in the late 1960s as a city bus driver. He enjoyed his job immensely and was a dedicated employee there for about 40 years, retiring about five years ago.

He was known by many of the local bus riders for his kind and unchanging demeanor. He treated every rider with dignity; and all who encountered him tell stories about how he treated them well and how he always tried to engage them in meaningful banter. Many riders got to know him because he drove the “College Place” bus every week day morning for many years.

He was a member of St.  Luke Baptist Church for many years and joined Zion Baptist Church later in his life.  Bobby was an active Sunday School attendee, served on the Brotherhood, sang on the Male Choir and participated in other church-related activities until his health issues began. In spite of these issues, he attended church faithfully every Sunday. Watching football and basketball was a great passion for him. He loved the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Lakers and delighted in following his teams each season. He was also an avid Gamecock fan.

Robert passed into the next life at Palmetto Health Richland on the evening of Friday, June 30. He was predeceased by his parents, grandparents, and a brother, Mr. Albert “Joe” Martin.

Bobby was married to Doris Goodwin Brown, who survives him, for almost 60 years. They had a successful partnership and supported and loved each other without fail. They had one son, Deacon Gregory A. Brown. Other survivors are a daughter-in-law, Gail Vesselles Brown; a brother, Mr. Jerry Pough; one stepson, Ty Washington; two grandsons, Galen Ross Brown and Dana Brown; step-grandsons, four great grandsons, one great-granddaughter and step-great grandchildren; two sisters-in law; and several nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and dear friends.