City of Savannah officials and staff along with community leaders will gather on Friday, March 28 to designate a portion of E. Broad St. as Rev. Matthew Southall Brown, Sr. Way. 

The honorary street name designation was approved during a regular meeting of the City Council on Dec. 19, 2024. The Historic Sites and Monuments Commission approved it on Dec. 5, 2024. The ceremony will take place at the intersection E. Broad St. and Hartridge St. 

Rev. Brown served the Savannah community for over 35 years as the pastor of St. John Baptist Church “The Mighty Fortress,” leading efforts to create new housing facilities for elderly and the handicapped, and education and learning centers. He passed away on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021 at the age of 99 of natural causes. 

He was born in Savannah on July 16, 1922. Rev. Brown’s parents owned a duplex at 519 and 521 Hartridge St. where he and his siblings spent their youth. He graduated from Cuyler-Beach High School in 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in World War II as a non-commissioned officer. 

In 1961, he earned a B.D. degree from the American Baptist Seminary in Nashville, Tenn. and was ordained as a minister in the same year in the Historic First African Baptist Church. Following pastorships at First Smyrna Baptist Church and Royal Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Brown was named the pastor of St. John Baptist Church in 1969 where he served until he retired in 2004. 

During his 35 years pastoring The Mighty Fortress, Rev. Brown instituted several impactful initiatives in the community. In 1986, Rev. Brown dedicated St. John Villa, formerly the East Broad Street School, as a new housing complex for the elderly and handicapped. Two years later, the Matthew Southall Brown Resources and Learning Center was named in his honor, serving as a meeting and research space for the church and surrounding community. 

Following a fire in 1993 that destroyed the church, Rev. Brown led the congregation and rallied support from the community to rebuild. He hosted a regular morning radio show called “Thought for the Day” on WSOK 1230 AM.

“For many of us, he was a father, mentor, confidant, encourager, and trailblazer, “Mayor Van R. Johnson, II said after Rev. Brown passed. “His branches are too many to count and the loss to our community is enormous. The teacher has left the classroom.” 

The street designation event is free and open to the public. E. Broad St. between Nicoll St. and Hartridge St. will be closed from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for this event. Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes. 

The honorary street name designation is intended to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community. The designation does not interfere with the official name of the street.