Mary Rena Reaves

Mary Rena Reaves, passionately known as Rita, gained her wings on April 22, 2026 at the age of 86 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was born on March 10,1940, in Lawrenceville, VA to the late Wilton Brown and Daisy V. Walker-Brown. She spent some time with her grandparents, Grandma Nellie and Grandpa Ben, in Lawrenceville, VA, of whom she was very fond and spoke about frequently. Later, her aunt brought her to Baltimore to reunite with her parents and siblings. After attending Douglas High School, she met the love of her life, Dawson. Then, in 1967, they married and moved to Belvieu to raise their 3 children, Floyd, Robert, and Pam, nephew, Dwight(aka Peaches), and hosted many relatives. Her love for singing and dancing led her to really enjoy social events like cabarets and house parties in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Her charismatic personality made her an excellent salesperson for Avon, Tupperware, Stanley cleaning products, etc. She was also a fabulous cook, so she cooked meals for many family holiday festivities and house parties. She even prepared many meals on Fridays for MTA personnel. Eventually, she opened a very successful restaurant, Rita’s Kitchen. Also, in the 1960s, she volunteered at Kernan Rehab Hospital(children’s ward). Being very passionate about caregiving, she fostered 2 children in the 1970s, Eunika and Tavon Price, which motivated her to start Ms. Rita’s Day-Care. Her exemplary love for children really blossomed when she began taking some of her daycare and neighborhood children with her on weekends and vacations to introduce them to the camping experience at Seaside View. Camping became a passion. She frequently upgraded her RVs, since Seaside View Recreational Park became their home away from home. Always trying to help the less fortunate, she would make sandwiches and gather blankets, so she and her husband could distribute them at parks where homeless people congregated. When she retired from daycare, she started volunteering at Providence hospital senior center as an aerobics instructor where exercising became another newfound passion. Once health issues started, she stayed closer to Belvieu. Then, she was relocated to a western MD facility when metastatic cancer began in her 80s. There she received impeccable care from Ms. Adrianne at Fahrney-Keedy. Rita leaves to cherish in memory: her husband, Dawson, 2 children, Pamela D. Fields(Otis), Floyd J. Brown, 10 grandchildren, Pam’s 2 children, Brittany Johnson, Jordan Fields, Robert’s daughter, Janeen Brown, Floyd’s 7 children, Anthony Brown, Downte Brown, Teefera(aka Latroy) Hall, Shawn Hearn, Angel Stockton(Brandon), Tiffany Brown, Sierra English, 27 great-grandchildren, Brittany’s son, Jovaunte’(aka Jay) Richardson, Anthony’s 6 children, Arrin Brown, A'Ryan Brown, Athena Brown, Apollo Brown, Atlas Brown, Adonis Brown, Downte’s 7 children, Shaunta(aka Moochie) Brown, Amore'(aka Peanut) Brown, Dauntae Brown, Heaven Williams, Tahonnei Williams, Messiah Brown, Travon Brown, Latroy’s daughter, Jourdin Hall, Shawn’s 3 children, Damir Hearn, Moneray Hearn, Lyric Hearn, Angel’s 3 sons, Christopher Thomas, Tyson Dixon, Tyler Dixon, Tiffany’s 3 sons, Immanuel Bullock, Joshua Brown, Elijah Morton, Sierra’s 3 children, Zephaniah Atkinson, Diamond English, Seraphina English, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Tributes

Mary Rena Reaves

March 10, 1940 - April 22, 2026