Celeste Banks Chandler Brown was born on September 8,1942 in Caswell County, NC, and grew up in the area of Danville, VA. Born the fourth of 12 siblings to the late Fulton Lee Chandler and Helen B. Tucker. Celeste was baptized and joined Ebenezer Baptist Church in Providence, North Carolina. She graduated from Caswell County Training School in 1961 where she received the honor of class salutatorian. Upon graduating from high school, she graduated from Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1966. She continued her education and received her Master of Education and Administration in Secondary Education at North Carolina Central University in 1986. She began her professional career as a classroom teacher in the Vance County school system in 1968. In 1986 she began her administrative career, serving as an Evaluator, Assistant Principal, Principal of Southern Vance High School and Director of Curriculum and Instruction retiring in 1995. Brown then decided her work was not done, eventually she came out of retirement and became the Principal of Pinkston Street Elementary School. She was recognized as Principal of the Year by the Raleigh News & Observer then later accepted a position in 1999 as Site Director of the NASA Science, Engineering, Math and Aerospace Academy in Warrenton, NC and retired from there in 2004.   Celeste was an advocate for education and a life-long teacher.  She took passion in working for the Vance County Public School System, Warren County Public Schools, as well as collaboratively working with Franklin County Public Schools to ensure that all kids deserved the best education. She was devoted to her family and church family. She married the Reverend Doctor Arthur A. Brown on December 30, 1967. To this union, two children were born: Alison Floyd and Patrick Brown. Celeste leaves to cherish precious memories, her husband of fifty years, Reverend Doctor Arthur A. Brown, daughters, Alison B. Floyd (Steve), Greensboro, North Carolina, Carla D. Hargrove (Theodore), Las Vegas, Nevada, and son, Patrick C. Brown (Aleah), Springfield, Virginia; Five siblings, Joyce Blount (Bill),Mademoiselle Chandler, Mable Fitzgerald (Sidney), Naomi Hamlett (Leroy) and Willie Wharton (Lewis). Eleven grandchildren, seventeen great-grandchildren and four great, great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, other loving relatives. Funeral Services will be conducted on Saturday 8/15/2020 at 10:00am at the Vance County High School (Formally Southern Vance) football stadium 925 Garret Road, Henderson, NC 27537. This stadium will provide plenty space for social distancing as a face covering protocol will be enforced by Davis-Royster Funeral Service due to COVID. Public viewing will take place on Friday 8/14/2020 from 12:00pm - 5pm at the funeral home. The committal will take place at the Union Grove Baptist Church following the funeral services. For any additional information or questions please call Davis-Royster funeral service at (252) 492-6911.