REIDSVILLE - Mrs. Etta Thomas-Brown, age 78, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Moses Cone Hospital.

Public viewing will begin on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 12 until 6 p.m. at McLaurin-Harris Funeral Home, 721 East Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 2 p.m. from the Grooms Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 2166 Grooms Road, Reidsville, NC. The family visitation will take place at 1:30 p.m. Minister Shernicka Ray will preside and Pastor Marland Wiggins, eulogist.

The committal and interment will follow in the Grooms Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.

All other times, the family will receive friends at the residence - 2891 NC Hwy 14, Reidsville, NC.

Etta Elaine Thomas-Brown affectionately known as "Penny" was born in Rockingham County, NC on June 3, 1947, to Haywood and Etta Smith Thomas.

She was educated in public schools and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. Always a diligent worker throughout her life, she held several jobs, American Tobacco Company, Cone Mills and The Brian Center.

Penny always loved going to church. She was a former member of Mt. Herman Baptist Church before joining Grooms Chapel Baptist Church. She loved worshipping and attending Bible Study. She would always be in such high spirits; while telling how much she enjoyed it, and what she has learned.

She was the second oldest of twelve children. Penny has been had matriarch of the Thomas Family for several decades. Walking in the footsteps of generations pride. This is a role she took to heart. She bared the mantle with love, dedication, and strength. When you needed help with your health or wellbeing, she was there to take you in, nurture and care for you, she showed up for her family in every way she could. Her favorite hobbies were doing Word Search Puzzles, attending yard sales, watching her favorite game shows, painting, and eating crab legs.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Joe Thomas, Freeman Thomas, Carl Thomas and George Thomas.
Survivors include daughters, Faye McKinzie (Joseph) and Tomi S. Neal; grandchildren, Tyrone Mills (Margie Shown) Kelly Totten (Bro Hayes), Justin Totten, Taylor Mills, Tru Joi Nunley, Taj Nunley, eight great-grandchildren; brothers, Edward Thomas (Diane), Chris Thomas (Sheila); sisters, Maxine Thomas, Sandra Williams (William), Diane Alverson Thomas, Wanda Washington, and Lisa Deloatch (Frank); special niece, Shernicka Ray; friends, Stuart & Cora Brown and Eddie Staples. She leaves a host of relatives and friends who loved her and knew her to be strong and caring.
We will miss her beautiful smile and cherish her memories forever.

Service by McLaurin-Harris