Mr. and Mrs. Jerry A. Brown III of Suffolk, along with Mr. and Mrs. Lynwood Matthews of Emporia, announce the engagement of their children, Jessica A. Brown and John M. Matthews.

Jessica is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman James Basnight of Barco, N.C. She is also the granddaughter of Mr. Jerry Brown Jr. and the late Patricia Brown of Chesapeake. She is the great-granddaughter of Glennell Bell of Virginia Beach.

John is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. June M. Matthews. He is also the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James Gillam of Jarratt.

Jessica is a 2009 graduate of Liberty University with a B.S. degree in psychology, and John is a 2007 graduate of NASCAR Technical Institute.

The wedding is planned for April 1, 2012, in Smithfield.