Maggie Mae Brown

The “precious” 13th child of the late George and Maggie Williams of Wake County, North Carolina.The “adorable” and challenging sibling of sixteen children.The “beloved” wife of the late Joseph Brown who preceded her 26 years ago (to the month).The “cherished” mother of Lynell.The “loving” grandmother of Adam and Joni.The “supportive” aunt of many nephews and nieces becoming the initial host as the entered Baltimore.The “dependable” neighbor and “lady mayor” of the 900 block of N. Appleton Street.The “excellent” seamstress for many organizations, relatives and friends.The “admired” godmother of Danny and even more, but most of all, the servant and eternal property of the Lord. Maggie was born on March 5, 1917 where she was reared on the farm. She completed her formal education in the Wake County Public School System. Her family church and training led her in “childlike” faith to accept Christ as her personal Savior. Attendance and participation characterized her emerging faithfulness to the Lord at the Good Hope Baptist Church of Shotwell, North Carolina. During her teenage years, Maggie was touched with a love for sewing, which developed into expertise until the onset of Alzheimer’s. Upon completion of school, she met and joined in matrimony to the late Joseph Brown of Red Springs, North Carolina. Maggie’s brothers and sisters affectionately called her “Maggie Mae.” Their earlier years were spent in Norfolk, Virginia and then later relocated to Baltimore, Maryland in 1946, where an only child, Lynell, was born in 1950. Maggie and Joe endured sacrifices to ensure that Lynell was exposed to the tools of a well-rounded education, which included traveling, books, school and church. Let’s not forget the “Buster Brown” shoes. Maggie’s employment through the years included the Venetian Blind Company of Norfolk, Virginia and Archers Laundry of Baltimore, Maryland and then self-employed using her God-given talent as a seamstress accrediting her with being one of Baltimore’s fantastic icons in the world of tailoring. Her love for God compelled a faithful membership to the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in 1947 under Pastor Hiram E. Smith, and later under Dr. Olin P. Moyd, where she served dutifully with the Senior Choir, the Missionaries, the Pastor’s Aid, and assisted in other groups. A love for her church and her Pastor’s family extended into seamstress work for Sister Moyd and sewing for auxiliaries. Maggie was a unique person who used her kindness to surprise. She became the neighborhood watch person, especially for the children, the sick and the shut-in. Her devotion in the community extended to Red Cross Nursing, the Clare R. Overton Chapter #59 of the Order of Eastern Star, a subscriber to the Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, and served a term as the Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper Clean Block Captain. She loved traveling and collecting and took her stand with a spiritual confidence using the 23rd Psalm as her motto and it served as an inspiration to her son. Cherishing her memory are one son, Lynell; daughter-in-law, Jeanetta; grandson, Adam and granddaughter, Joni of Edgewood, Maryland; one brother, Eppmethus of Raleigh, North Carolina, one brother-in-law, John of Red Springs, North Carolina; one sister-in-law, Rebecca of Falling Water, West Virginia; one godson, Danny Gerringer of Baltimore, Maryland; and a host of nephews, nieces cousins, other relatives and friends. Special thanks to the Frederick Villa Nursing Center and entire staff.

Tributes

Maggie Mae Brown

March 5, 1917 - December 11, 2001