MACON, Ga. — Matt Brown was known as the go-to guy in Lokchappee Landing. His neighbors were shocked when they found out he'd been shot in the neighborhood.
His parents said he wanted to spread his kindness and knowledge to help people. His mother, Pam Brown, says she misses that about him.
"In the beginning, I thought I was teaching him, but it turns out he was teaching me how to be a better person," Pam said.
Pam said when her son wanted to do something there was no stopping him. She calls him a jack of all trades.
"If he dreamed it, he turned it into reality so whenever he said 'mama I'm going to do so and so', well you can just go ahead and take that to the bank because it will be done," Pam said.
Sylvia Rose-Brown married Matt in 2019. She believes she and Matt shared one mind.
"I believe he was and is the love of my life. We could finish each other's sentences literally," Sylvia said.
Sylvia remembers it being just another Sunday night until police showed up at her door. A few minutes earlier, Matt had stepped out of the house to check the house alarm and he was shot.
"They walked me over and you know showed me Matt and said do you know this person and I don't even remember after that. I just remember being crouched over just in shock," Sylvia said.
Sylvia believes it's now her turn to continue Matt's legacy of giving back.
"Honest person, you know thoughtful person, always helping others, so now it's my turn to do that," Sylvia said.
She's working with Hutchings College and Career Academy and the Bibb County School District to donate Matt's tools, in his honor, to help support students.
"I really feel like I can provide some type of value to this horrible tragedy," Sylvia said.
Matt's father Larry Brown says he's hopeful for the future, but added family and friends need to get through the grief.
"Some point in time we will be at more peace than we are now but right now it's just tough," Larry said.
Matt's wife Sylvia asks anyone with information on the shooting to call Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
MORE THAN A NUMBER:
More Than A Number is a Poynter-Stand Together award-winning project by Justin Baxley designed to help families of loved ones impacted by tragedy and trauma interact with journalists in a less intrusive way. Families are able to fill out a form about their family and also receive an in-depth guide on the next steps.
More Than A Number officially launched in August with a streaming special available on 13WMAZ+ for on-demand streaming. For any questions or concerns about More Than A Number, contact us here at the following email: MoreThanANumber@13wmaz.com
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