Pastor Matthew Southall Brown, Sr. Reverend/Pastor Matthew Southall Brown, Sr, affectionately referred to throughout Savannah and beyond as "Pastor Brown", is the fourth child of the late Mr. Christopher Frederick Brown and Mrs. Helen Robinson Brown. Pastor Brown received his Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) from the American Baptist School of Theology Extension, Nashville, TN. He matriculated at Princeton School of Theology, Princeton, NJ. He also studied Addiction Sciences at the University of Miami on a grant from the city of Savannah. During his career in the ministry, Pastor Brown has pastored four churches: Smyrna Baptist Church in Savannah, Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, SC, the Historic Nicholsonboro Baptist Church on White Bluff/Savannah, and St. John Baptist Church, "The Mighty Fortress" in Savannah, where he remained and retired after 35 years. He has been honored with the title of Dean of Pastors in Savannah. Pastor Brown has received numerous honors from a wide range of organizations and governmental entities which include: Being featured in the documentary, "The Chocolate Soldiers in Europe of World War II"; a trip to Israel sponsored by the Jewish Community of Savannah, where he also visited Egypt; listed in the "Who's Who Edition of Black Clergymen in the South"; elected to serve on the Martin Luther King, Jr statewide committee for the state observance of the King Holiday; and being appointed to the Federal Court Bi-racial Committee to assist in bringing about a unitary school system. He added another career accomplishment in 2013 by publishing his first book entitled, "The Best of Pastor Matthew Southall Brown, Sr's 6:30 am Meditative Thoughts." He was invited to be the Guest Chaplain at the United States House of Representatives to open that House session with words of meditation and prayer. Pastor Brown was interviewed in January, 2017 by "The History Makers" which conducts video oral history interviews to preserve the untold personal stories of both well-known and unsung African Americans. On August 28, 2019, Pastor Matthew Southall Brown, Sr. returned to a "hero's welcome" in the countries of Belgium and The Netherlands, seventy-five years after he fought during World War II. The Dutch Consulate expressed their gratitude to Pastor Brown for his military service. Pastor Brown was also recognized by the National Baptist Convention, Inc. for well over 50+ years of preaching and teaching the Gospel. In addition, he was honored by Savannah State University during its centennial celebration for his service to the institution. Pastor Brown and his wife, Lottie, who passed away August 31, 2014, have four children: Christa, who passed away in 2015, (8 months after her Mother), Maxine, Leonard, and Matthew, Jr. They also have 24 grand and great-grandchildren.
