Rev. Dr. Coy E. Brown Sr., 83, of Elkhart, passed away at home on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.

He was born on December 2, 1942, in Milan, TN to the late Precious Jewel Hutcherson and Willie Elizabeth Barham. Also preceding him in death are Genetta (Cleo) Williams, Ellen F. Parks, Teresa M. Lewis, James R. Barham, Terry R. Barham, Rena Bolton, Earnest Eugene Barham and Genai Geneen Coleman.

On February 25, 1989, Rev. Brown married Geraldine M. Coleman in Cassopolis, MI. She survives along with his children: Zina Brown and Janesa Brown of Georgia, Coy Brown Jr. of Elkhart; stepchildren; Apostle Edwin A. (Chantella) Newsome of Elkhart, Pastors Rhonda (Kevin) Davis of South Bend, Camelia (Hamlet) Charles of Georgia and Vincent Coleman of Elkhart; siblings Janyth Tidwell, DeWayne Barham and Ernestine Barham of Elkhart, Stevie (Tiffany) Russell of Niles, Elder Latoshia (Torrence) McMorris of Elkhart, Joshua Russell of Dowagiac, MI, Shiela Gaskins of New Orleans and Precious Jewell Hutcherson of Colorado. He is also survived by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Reverend Dr. Coy E. Brown Sr. was a devoted husband, loving father, and faithful friend. No one was a stranger to him, regardless of where his travels carried him. He loved people.

Even in several emergency-room settings, he would ask to be wheeled over to someone else who was ailing so that he could pray for them. On one occasion, after many hours of surgery, he and God had an encounter. He preached, prophesized, and ministered to everyone who came into the room. He even admonished us for our wrong attitudes toward each other. That ministering spirit went on all day.

He could see things in people that no one else cared to look for.

Reverend Coy was a preacher’s confidant, counseling many of them on personal matters. He was regarded as a man of wisdom and integrity.

Throughout Pastor Brown’s numerous years of ministry, he poured into the lives of many, leading them from being mere bench warmers to those would knock on doors with the simple question: “May I pray for you?”

This can be attested to by the numbers of the Circle of Faith Prayer Ministry. Many developed into confident and sometimes long-winded prayers, co-pastors and Christian leaders.

His question was often, “What did you do with what you learned this week?”

He and his wife worked tirelessly on housing projects, which resulted in storehouses filled with hammers, nails, paint, ladders and lots of other equipment.

To say that Reverand Dr. Coy E. Brown will be missed is indeed an understatement. However, he is now called from labor to reward.

Rev. Brown was the pastor of Community Baptist Church in Cassopolis, MI for 33 years. He also worked at UMI and C G Armstrong musical instruments as an instrument maker.

Visitation for Rev. Brown will be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, from 5-7 at Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home and one hour prior to services on Saturday, September 5th at 12 pm at Kingdom Impact Church in Elkhart. Burial will be in Prairie Street Cemetery.