James Douglas "Doug" Brame

With hearts full of love and sorrow, we honor the life of Doug a man whose strength, generosity, and unwavering devotion shaped the lives of everyone fortunate enough to know him.

James Douglas “Doug” Brame, 78, of Reidsville passed away Saturday, May 2, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, May 5 2026 at Wilkerson Funeral Home with Pastor Darrell Boles officiating. Burial will follow at Howard’s Chapel Christian Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service, beginning at 12:00 PM.

Doug was the heart of a large and deeply connected family. He leaves behind five children, six grandchildren, and one great grandchild, who loved him beyond measure. More than numbers, it was the closeness he built that truly defined his legacy. He was the steady presence, the glue who held everyone together, the one you could always count on. His family wasn’t just important to him it was everything.

A man rooted in hard work and simple joys, Doug took great pride in caring for the old family farmland. He found peace with his hands in the soil, growing vegetables, tending to his gardens, and nurturing life in every season. He also cherished time spent fishing, especially at the beach, where the rhythm of the water matched the calm strength he carried throughout his life.

Doug also carried a lifelong passion for engines and racing. He worked on a race car for many years and loved everything about the world of racing including the sound, the speed, and the precision it demanded. This is a reflection of what those around him always knew that Doug was exceptionally smart, gifted with his hands, and naturally skilled in understanding how things worked.

To his family, Doug was a Hero in the truest sense and to everyone else, he was no different. He had a rare gift, the ability to fix, build, and understand just about anything. If something was broken, Doug could make it right. If something seemed impossible, he would find a way. His intelligence wasn’t just in what he knew, but in how he showed up patient, determined, selfless, and quietly brilliant.

For many years, Doug owned and operated his automotive repair shop, building not just a business, but a reputation. People came to him not only because he was skilled, but because he was honest. He took on the jobs others turned away, never cutting corners, never giving less than his best. Doug was a perfectionist. His customers trusted him, respected him, and many became lifelong friends.

Doug was a man who never stopped working not because he had to, but because that’s who he was. He gave his time, his energy, and his heart to others without hesitation. He put his family first in every decision, every day, right up to the very end of his life. His love wasn’t loud it was steady, constant, and deeply felt in everything he did.

Doug was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Paula Wilson Brame. He is survived by his children, Melissa Cross (Dan), Jason Brame (Paige), Scott Brame (Crystal), Julie Brame (Josh), Jeremy Brame (Meg); grandchildren, Jordan Cross, Bryson Edwards (Paige), Abby Brame, Cohen Brame, Jackson Brame, Henry Brame; great grandchild, Blair Vernon; step-grandchildren, Alan Cross (Kaiti) and Josh Cross (Laura); step-great-grandchild Arden; brothers, Freddie Brame (Janet) and Dwayne Brame; sisters, Carolyn Walker (Jimmy) and Patricia Coleman; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

He will be missed more than words can say and loved more than time can measure. Though he is no longer with us, his spirit lives on in the lessons he taught, the values he instilled, and the love that continues to bind his family together.

Doug’s life was one of purpose, strength, and quiet greatness. He will Never be forgotten.