Charles “Jerome” Brown, II is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and a product of the Hattiesburg Public Schools System. Brown’s father Charles is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and retired from the WIN Job Center after 30 years of service and mother Christine is a retired school teacher with 32 years of service. Brown’s twin brother Jermaine is an administrator for the Hattiesburg Public Schools.
Brown graduated from Jackson State University with a Bachelor in Business Administration majoring in Marketing. Jerome furthered his studies at the University of Southern Mississippi in Management. He is also a graduate of the University of Mississippi’s School of Banking with the Mississippi Bankers Association. Brown also holds a certification from the True South Economic Development Course from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Brown is Senior Vice President, Director of Community Development at The First, A National Banking Association. At The First, Jerome oversees corporate community development activities within The First’s footprint which is Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. This position establishes, participates and maintains relationships with local governments, community-based, charitable, and non-profit organizations. Brown Develops and implements programs and products to ensure the Bank meets the needs of the community and maintains compliance regulations. Brown advises the Bank's Executive Management and Bank personnel of emerging community issues to ensure compliance directives are achieved. Brown further assists in ensuring department activities run smoothly and efficiently by providing leadership, training and supervision within the company. The Department of Treasury recently selected Mr. Brown to be a member of the OCC’s Minority Depository Institutions Advisory Committee (MDIAC) for the 2019-2020 term.
In the community, Brown has been very active where he currently serves as, a Commissioner of the Forrest County Industrial Park Commission; Current boards are as follows: Mississippi Council on Economic Education; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Renaissance Community Loan Fund Corporation; The Hattiesburg Public School District Foundation (President-elect).
His past boards include the Board of Directors of the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, The USM Athletic Foundation, DREAM of Hattiesburg, The Area Development Partnership and Board Chairman for the United Way of Southeast Mississippi, being the first African American to serve in this position and Founder and Past President of the Hattiesburg Athletic Booster Club. Brown is also the voice of the Hattiesburg High Tigers Football Team as he announces the play by play for football games on the radio.
Brown is Past President of the Jackson State University Alumni Association, Hattiesburg Chapter and currently the Treasurer. Brown is a Life Member of the Jackson State University National Alumni Association Board of Directors serving as the Sargent at Arms.
Brown is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., where he is Past President of the Mississippi State Caucus and Past President of the Hattiesburg Alumni Chapter and is past Southwestern Province Board Member for Mississippi.
In 2003 the Hattiesburg Jaycees named Brown as the Outstanding Young Citizen of the Year. In 2008 and 2012, Brown received the Area Development Partnership Top Service Award. In 2009, the South Mississippi Business Journal named Brown to the prestigious Top 10 under 40. Brown was also named the 2009 Alumni Brother of the Year from the Mississippi State Caucus of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Brown is also a Graduate of Leadership Pine Belt and Leadership Mississippi.
Brown is married to the former Celeste Thornton of Jackson, Mississippi and they have two children Cameren and Carmen and are members of West Point Baptist Church.