Annabelle Brown

Annabelle Brown was born Annabelle Stevenson on January 15, 1925 in Blackstock South Carolina to the late Lewis and Bessie Stevenson. Eleven children were born out of this loving union, Samuel, Annabelle, Johnnie Mae, Asie Lee, Lewis Jr., Lucy Jane, Leonard, Cattie Ruth, Willie Mack, Lillie Mae, and Edward. The Stevenson's were a farming family and Annabelle always shared the memories she had, as a child, of working on the farm with her father. She also pursued her early education in the Fairfield County School System. She was baptized at the Sweet Prospect Church and it was there she first met Mark Brown who later became her husband and lifelong love. In 1947 Annabelle moved to Baltimore where she reconnected with Mark Brown and on October 3rd 1948 they were married by Reverend Joseph Culp. This union was blessed with two children, Marjorie born May of 1949 and Mark, Jr. in May of 1950. Annabelle always viewed her children as a precious gift from God. She began her employment at St. Joseph's Hospital in the late 1950's and was employed there until her retirement in 1985. She furthered her love of sewing by taking a Night School Tailoring class at Dunbar High School resulting in her becoming a Certified Tailor. She enjoyed creating garments from the best fabrics not only for herself but for others. Needless to say, she was very fashionable and always dressed from head to toe in striking hats, jewelry and shoes accompanying her creations and assemblies. Annabelle joined the New Friendship Baptist Church in the early 1950's and was a faithful member since that time. She encouraged extended family members to join leading to many family members still being active and attending today. She loved the Lord and this was evident by the way she read and studied the word. Anything that increased her knowledge of God she participated in; church, bible study, retreats, revivals, workshops, and seminars you name it she was there, ever so thankful for the opportunity, saying "I love to sit under the word of God." Her night stand was filled with bibles, books and workshop handouts. Annabelle was also a member of Excelsior Chapter 41 Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron. She possessed a One Hundred Thousand Watt Smile that could light up a room and that smile emanated from a warm, friendly and inviting spirit that dwelled within her. That inner spirit prompted lifelong friendships, genuine care and concern for just about everyone she would ever meet and led to a legacy of warm feelings about her that will last into the foreseeable future. Her parting words to anyone would always be "Be a good person". Annabelle loved her family. She was the cornerstone of her immediate family and intimately involved in the raising of her children, grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She was the acknowledged Matriarch of the Stevenson Family and was instrumental in forming the Stevenson Family Reunions which began in 1988 and have continued until the present day. Annabelle was married to Mark Sr. for 69 years until his death in March of this year. She leaves to cherish her memory two children, Marjorie Miles and Mark Brown Jr., one daughter in law, Mable G. Brown, five grandchildren, Tony A. Miles II, Gabrielle Jones, Cassandra Sutton, Mark Brown III, and Ebony D. Brown, two Grand Sons In Law, Paul Jones and Shawn Sutton, seven Great Grandchildren Bobby Boynton, Christopher Boynton, Bethany Sutton, Nikolas Sutton, Hailey Sutton, Jarrod Jones, and Grant Oliver, two brothers, Willie Mack Stevenson and Edward Stevenson, two sisters, Lucy Battle and Cattie Ruth Chisholm, two Brothers in law, Gary Brown, and James Battle, two sisters in law, Alberta Stevenson and Willetter Stevenson and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends including a special niece Mary Lee McCrea and family.

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Annabelle Brown

January 15, 1925 - October 16, 2018