Lillie Mae Brown

Lillie Mae Brown was born on December 3, 1929 to John Henry and Hannah Brown in Smithton, Arkansas. At an early age, Lillie was baptized and united with Eastern Star Baptist Church where she served as a member of the choir. She attended school at Smithton Schools and later attended Bell High School where she was a member of the basketball team and graduated in 1951.

Lillie began a new chapter of her life in 1952, when she moved to Chicago, Illinois. This is where she started her own family with the birth of her son, Walter Lee Brown. She later moved to Detroit, Michigan. In 1971, she began another journey at Chrysler Automotive where she retired in 1992. Shen then moved back to Smithton, reunited her membership at Eastern Star Baptist Church and served on the Mother’s Board until her health began to fail.

Lillie was loving, caring and very persistent about things in life. She adored her family and wad always wiling to lend a helping hand to support them in any way. She loved spending time with family. She occupied her pastimes with quilting, gardening and other yard work; and of course, shopping.

Lillie was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry and Hannah Brown; seven siblings, Richard Lee Brown, John Henry, Jr., Howard Brown, Sr., Minnie Mae Brown, Geola Brown Hart, JD Brown and Freddie Lee Brown; brothers-in-law, Sam Rivers, Willie Lee Lock and Grady Hart; sister-in-law, Marie Brown, Willie Marie Brown, Katherine Tidwell-Brown, Shirley Brown and Patricia Brown.

Her everlasting memory will continue on to live on in the hearts of her son, Walter Lee Brown; granddaughters, Krystal Brown and Melissa Brown all of Detroit, MI. She also leaves her great-grandchildren, Kristina Cannon, Joshua Cannon and Rachel Cannon; her siblings, Ruth Rivers of Chicago, IL, Hattie Mae Lock of Smithton, AR, Alfred Brown of Smithton, AR, Edward Brown (Betty) of Smithton, AR and Roger Brown of Little Rock, AR. She also leaves to cherish her fond memories, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, as well as, dear friends, Betty Taylor of Gurdon, AR, Pearlie Mae Blake Hubbard and a friend & caregiver, Elma Guinn.

Submitted by the Brown Family

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020 at Holly Grove Cemetery in Okolona, Arkansas with Rev. James H. Giles, Sr., officiating. Pallbearers honorable to mention are Edward Brown Sr., Alfred Brown, Robert Brown and her nephews.