Longtime Columbia resident, S. Coley Brown, passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on December 4th, 2025. To know him was to love him, and if you did, you had to love his voraciousness for life. “One-of-a-kind” is a term coined just for him and he will be deeply missed
Coley was born in Raleigh, NC in 1941 to Margaret Coley and Jennings Caney Brown. The second of four children, Coley spent much of his youth in southern Georgia, before attending college at The Citadel. Although not a model cadet, he excelled on the football field and played both offense and defense. During his career, the Citadel won the 1960 Tangerine Bowl. Quite a feat, because at that time, there were only 8 bowl games in the whole country!
Shortly after graduation, Coley married Carolyn Brown of Sumter, and they had 3 children: Merewynn, Coley, and Anne Courtney. He spent several years working for Shell Oil Company in sales, but soon realized that he could only work for one person – himself. After a divorce and a series of odd jobs, he acquired a small tract of land on Forest Drive in Columbia, that was practically wooded all around. There he built his crowning business achievement, the Columbia Athletic Club. At a time when fitness was an afterthought in Columbia, he brought it into the mainstream. Think of neon legwarmers, walkmans, big hair, and spandex! But, more important than the fitness, was the fun, the family, and the friendship of “the Club”. A year did not go by without a trip to Lake Tahoe, or Maggie Valley, or a Gamecock bowl game, or a rafting trip, or a scuba trip to Cancun. What a blast!
Coley is survived by Annette Carlson and her son Ben (Louis), his three children, Merewynn Summers, Coley Brown (Ellen), AC Greene (Darren), his eight wonderful grandchildren and one great granddaughter: Beth O’Meara (Ryan and daughter Adaline), Garett Summers (Laird), Lauren Folk (Tanner), Ellenor Brown Knight (Branch), Sarah Brown, Coley Brown Jr., Jennings Greene and Ryan Greene. He is also survived by his brother, Baxter Brown, half-sister Maggie Marlowe, and a boatload of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, the mother of his children, his brother Jenks, sister Diana and half-brother John.
We will always fondly remember:
- ·his dazzling smile
- ·a trip in the “ColeyBago” or Man Show Motor Home
- ·kamikaze snow skiing
- ·getting punched in the arm – hard!
- ·tennis, tennis, tennis
- ·Olde Grey Rugby
- ·table diving on the Tahoe Queen
- ·breaking down on a boat trip in the lake or river
- ·water volleyball and walleyball
- ·cooking out for a group (and perhaps it was an alligator or a goat!)
- ·water skiing like a champ
- ·a race or fitness competition at the Club
- ·walking 9 holes every day at Fort Jackson
- ·Healthy Hour or Happy Hour?
Everyone has a story about Coley! In lieu of flowers, we would appreciate you taking a moment to leave a comment or story about an interaction you had with him. Thank you and we love you all!
Please join us on Saturday, January 10th, 2026 at Junction 800 (formerly Jillian’s), 800 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC to celebrate his life. Doors will open at 3pm and the service will begin promptly at 3:30pm. Food and drink will be provided.