Mrs. Lois Frances Brown

Lois Frances Brown was born April 18, 1918 in Ripley, Tennessee. She was the second youngest child of the late Willie and Mary Emma Nixon of Ripley, Tennessee. Lois's parents died when she was two years old and she and her four siblings were brought to Blytheville, Arkansas by their maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Manes. She received her formal education in the Blytheville, Arkansas school systems. Lois accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age at the West End Baptist Church in Blytheville. She united in marriage to James Curry, who preceded her in death. This union produced one Son James (Shirley) Gipson, who also preceded her in death. She later married Willie Brown Sr. and they shared three children Willie Jr. (Allie Mae), Vanessa (Lee) Brown, and Norman Earl Brown. Upon arrival in Chicago, she united with Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church where she was active on the usher board and in several auxiliaries. She moved her membership to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Clay Evans. She was a hard worker and for most of her working career she worked two jobs. She was employed at Metropolitan Life Insurance, Ford Motor Company, performed domestic work for private residences and Roosevelt University. She retired from Roosevelt University in 1980. She was always an activist and was very proud of serving as a Union Steward at Roosevelt for Local 25 SEill. Lois was selected to attend the University of Illinois Arbitration Certificate program and given the opportunity to serve as an arbitrator for the union. Lois was very active with the Civil Rights movement on Saturday morning's she and her children could be seen at Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) currently Operation Push volunteering and marching. She was one of the original families in the Contract Buyers League (Chicago, n.) that eventually won a Supreme Court decision which allowed black home buyers to not be discriminated against regarding price and credit. She enjoyed family, entertaining, gardening and traveling. She was often found in the kitchen cooking, barbequing in the back yard or gardening. Her home was the site for many a family and teen gatherings. She always made time to listen, give you the Lois Brown wisdom, tell you about being baptized in the river Jordan and remind you that you stood on the shoulders of proud Black ancestors. When asked by family and friends for an adjective to describe Lois they said, selfless, direct, a character, caring, hardworking, accountable and fiercely independent. Lois Frances Brown departed this life on March 13, 2013 at the age of 94- 3/4 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents and sons Willie Jr. and James Gipson, two brothers Charles Nixon and an infant boy, three sisters Ruby, Lynnie Mae and Louis Withers, one sister-in-law Jewelyn Nixon, two brothers-in-law Charles Withers and Joe Mae, one daughter-in-law Dorothy Gipson and one granddaughter Rebecca Marie Moore. She leaves to cherish her memories her loving children, son Norman Earl Brown, Indianapolis, In. daughter, Vanessa Ann (Lee) Brown, Milwaukee, WI.; two sister-in-laws, Learlean Johnson, Chicago, IL, and Dorothy Brown, Chicago, IL.; four daughters-in-law, Shirley Gipson, Calumet Park, IL., Allie Mae Miller, Markham, IL., Soreta Alexander Thomas, Chicago, IL., Denise Thomas, Calumet City, IL., and Mari Brown, Chicago, lL.; grandchildren, Lester (Keshia) Brown, Sylvestor'Bo (Yolanda) Brown, Lisa Frazier, Derek (Latoya) Gipson, Michael (Karen) Gipson, Belynda (John) Tovio, Cynthia (Quinton) Johnston, Persephone' Percy Brown, Promethius Brown, Kristina' Tina Brown and Amari Brown and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren and friends. "Your body has died, but your spirit, laughter and determination will forever live in our hearts. " .,

Mrs. Lois Frances Brown

April 18, 1918 - March 13, 2013