ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Family, friends and those from the community had the opportunity to pay their final respects and see Andrew Brown Jr. one last time before his funeral on Monday.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Two viewings were held Sunday

  • The first viewing was in Hertford at the Horton Funeral Home for family and friends, and the other at the Museum of Albemarle in Elizabeth City for the public

  • Horton's funeral directory says Monday at 10:45 a.m. they will transport Brown’s body by horse and carriage from the Waterfront Park to the Fountain of Life Church where services will begin at noon


 Two viewings were held Sunday. One was in Hertford at the Horton Funeral Home for family and friends, and the other at the Museum of Albemarle in Elizabeth City for the public. 
 
Clendell Godfrey was at the viewing in Hertford, not to see Brown’s body, but for work.
 
Godfrey and his team are tasked with capturing Brown's funeral service.
 
“It’s going to be quite a few people there tomorrow,” he said.
 
Godfrey has spent decades shooting weddings, funerals and other events across the country, but Monday’s service will hit home. 
 
“Oh yeah, this will definitely be personal,” he said. "I used to live not far from his dad. We grew up together.”
 
Sunday morning, he was up early capturing video and images of Brown’s first viewing. 
 
This viewing was for family and friends like Kenyetta Swing, who can’t believe Brown is gone. 
 
“This really hurts,” Swing said. “It hurts to the core just to witness such tragedy in this area, and for it to be a Black man as well as myself, it could have been me.” 
 
Swing and others there, like Edwin Newbuy, said all they want is justice for Brown. 

“We know that it was such a crime,” Newbuy said. “You look at the policemen to protect, not to hurt or kill.”

Darius Horton is the funeral director at Horton’s Funeral Home and said he’s been working day and night to make sure Monday’s funeral goes well for the family.

“It’s one thing to lose a love one from sickness, but to lose someone from tragedy, there’s an extra emotional component,” Horton said. “So, my family and staff is here to make sure that we give this family the best service that we can to help them in their road to recovery and their road to gain peace.”

The community is preparing to say their final goodbye, with Clendell and his team there documenting it all. 
 
The viewing in Hertford finished at 1 p.m. so Brown’s body could be brought to the Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City for the public viewing at 3 p.m.

Horton said on Monday at 10:45 a.m., they will transport Brown’s body by horse and carriage from the Waterfront Park to the Fountain of Life Church where services will begin at noon.