Elizabeth Brown

Elizabeth Brown stretched out her hand to her Precious Lord on Friday, June 5, 2015. He took her hand and guided her to the place He prepared for her. She was born in Isles of Wight, Virginia on August 20, 1922. Her parents, Howard and Mary Brown (nee Davis), raised her for the first seven years in Virginia. When her family came to Maryland, they lived in the Turner's Station area. There she began school in the Baltimore school system, staying through the eight grade. She worked for many years under the employ of “Mrs. Sachs,” who owned a dress-making business. After leaving that job, Elizabeth spent many years raising and watching her grandchildren, which was more than a full-time job. As the children got older and no longer needed Gramma's watchful eye, she turned to work outside her home. She was hired by Sears when it was located on North Avenue. She worked there through their relocation to White Marsh. After several years she retired to enjoy life. Elizabeth joined the Faith Baptist Church community where she attended with her sister, Edna Parker. The two little ladies could be seen coming to church in the sister's car every Sunday morning until Sister Parker's death. With a small income, Elizabeth was able to bankroll many whose incomes more than quadrupled her own. She practiced “heavenly financing”. Her primary principle was to deposit into “My Father's Account”, which were her tithes and offerings. Elizabeth knew when she paid into that account first, everything followed in perfect order. She contributed to many evangelists, churches and charities. A favorite pastime of hers was reading. Give Elizabeth a book today, and ask her how she was enjoying it tomorrow, and she could report that she had already finished it. She also loved cooking for her family; someone was always asking for her sweet potato pies and rice pudding. Her many specialties included greens, string beans with hamhocks, turkery soup, liver and onions, short ribs and navy bean soup –the list goes on and on. Elizabeth Brown had several names. She was Miss Jackie, Aunt E., Eliza (which she hated), Mrs. Presbury, Emma, Mana, Mama and most preciously, Gramma. She was greatly and widely loved by those in her apartment building and community as well a those in her most recent residence, Franklin Woods Center. She enjoyed them and they enjoyed her. She was mother to three daughters and a grandmother to many. She married Wilbert Presbury Jr. and from this union, Joan and Margaret were born. Later, she married Alfred Timpson and from this union, Freda was born. The prayer warrior that she was, her family and circle were the recipients of powerful prayers. Whenever family members encountered life's storms, a call to Gramma “sealed the deal” that God would quickly send a solution in response to her humble plea. Her grandchildren felt those prayers were magical. We attribute many expressions to her. Upon responding to your question if she needed anything, she said, “I'm pretty well fixed but thanks for asking.” When you left she would tell you “Godspeed and be sure to take some time for your self.” Her seemingly favorite saying however was, “nothing will happen to me today that the Lord and I can't handle.” Her faith was unshakeable. Her legacy to her family is that faith. She was the model God would have for us to follow. A woman who was small in stature and mild in manner, had a fiercely strong spirit. She saw generations of life fall from her family tree – two daughters, Margret Ellison and Freda Sye; three grandchildren, Veronica, Vernon and Derek Saunders; and great-grandchild, Diasia Graham. She leaves to cherish her memory: Joan Presbury Green (Calvin); granddaughters, April, Karin (Todd Harris) and Chrystal Green, Deborah Saunders, Sherry Sye-Graham (Damon) and Darnisha Rooks; grandsons, Jeffrey Green, Kevin Saunders (Melissa), Lawrence and Kenneth Sye; niece, Doris Lee (Edward); twenty-three great and thirty-nine great-great-grandchildren, as well as other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Elizabeth Brown

August 20, 1922 - June 5, 2015