Michael Gregory Brown, a Richmond native and champion for social justice, died peacefully at St. Mary’s Hospital on Jan. 26, following a brief illness. He was 77. Funeral services were held Feb. 3 at Joseph Jenkins Jr. Funeral Home.

Born July 12, 1947, to the late George W. Brown and Doris Wilder Brown, Brown grew up in the North Side of Richmond, where he and his family attended the historic First African Baptist Church. He graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School and later attended Hampton Institute, though his education was briefly interrupted when he was drafted into the Army. Brown served in the Vietnam War, where he earned a Purple Heart.

After returning from Vietnam, Brown earned a degree from Virginia Union University and became a dedicated advocate for social justice and political change. He served as the Secretary of the Virginia State Board of Elections, working to ensure voter access and make voting more accessible, especially in underserved communities. Brown also worked with the NAACP and assisted in numerous state and local Democratic political campaigns, including those for his uncle, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, during his historic campaigns for lieutenant governor and governor of Virginia.

Brown, the grandson of renowned Black photographers at Brown Studio, was deeply involved in civic engagement and worked to empower voters and promote democracy.

He is survived by his wife, Valery Y. R. Bates; two daughters, Shani Brown and Michelle Brown Harris (Marek); one grandson, Micah Benjamin Harris; his uncle, Gov. Wilder; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives, as well as friends.