Dock M. Brown, a longtime political leader and civil rights activist, has died.

Brown, 81, died Monday at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, friends said this morning.

“I’m saddened,” Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon said. “He was a very inspirational part of my life and my career. I’ve known him all my life, I’ve known his wife and son. This is a big loss to the town, the county and state.”

Macon described Brown as a pillar of the community. “His view or philosophy was to help all mankind and for all people to be treated fairly and equally.”

Brown challenged the police chief to look at the tangible things in life but also to see the political aspects of life. “Through birth to death things are connected politically and rules govern our society,” Macon said Brown told him. “I know he lived a good life and a full life. He had many accomplishments.”

One of the things Brown taught Macon was humility. “He was always for the betterment of the children.”

State Senator Ed Jones said Brown was always concerned about everyone “being on a level playing field.”

Jones said Brown was an activist but most important, “He was my friend. He was someone I looked up to. When you had matters involving politics, he was always a go to guy. He was always there.”

The senator described Brown as an icon. “I was thankful I got to know him.”

Brown prepares to speak at the post office dedication.

David Harvey, president of the county chapter of the NAACP, said, “Dock Brown was essentially my mentor, him and Horace Johnson.”

Brown was the chapter’s political action chair, Harvey said. “He would teach me the landscape of Halifax County politics. He taught me all about the civil rights issues and who the real supporters of the NAACP were.”

On politics, “Dock was the cornerstone of this county. He believed in this county. He was a true civil rights worker.”

While Harvey came to Halifax County with civil rights experience, Brown taught the civil rights issues here. “He was probably the biggest supporter I had in this county.”

One of the things left unfinished by Brown’s death was the issue of school consolidation, Harvey said. “It’s the biggest civil rights issue in Halifax County, our educational system. He was passionate about our school system and wanted the barriers torn down that would let all kids at that school (Roanoke Rapids).”

In his life, however, Brown accomplished many things, Harvey said. “We wouldn’t have Mark Macon as police chief. We wouldn’t have Julia Meacham as mayor. We wouldn’t have four African Americans serving as county commissioner if Dock had not been involved.”

While Brown was a state legislator, a county commissioner and Weldon town board member, Harvey said the man’s love was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. “Through it all, his first love was the NAACP and civil rights. “He was my mentor. I loved his energy. Dock was almost like a father figure to me. When I called his wife would tell him his other son is on the phone.”

Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Frazier was one of Brown’s students and players. “He coached me through high school. He looked at things differently. He could see the good. He would take a bad situation and make it good. He was a good representative for the county and I will surely miss him.”

Brown was also a supporter of Frazier as sheriff. “He was right there for everything I needed. We always took care of each other. I have lost a good friend.”

Halifax County Commissioner Vernon Bryant said, “I never made a move in my career without consulting Dock Brown. He was my former coach, teacher and mentor.”

Bryant said Brown was influential not only in his political career, but his personal career.

The first black member of the Roanoke Rapids school board, Bryant served as chair for five years. “He was in the background. At my retirement he was one of my speakers.”

There are countless people Brown helped, Bryant said. “Hundreds and hundreds, thousands and thousands, the list goes on. He was a pillar of the community. I don’t know if I can live up to that and be what he was. That’s a goal. I can’t think of anyone in the community, black or white, who has had more influence in the community than Dock Brown.”