Mary Frances Williams Brown, the fourth of eight children, was born February 20, 1941 to the late Lee and Sallie Mae Morgan Williams, Sr. in Salem, Alabama.
She attended Lee County Schools, graduating from Wacoochee High School in Salem, Alabama. She furthered her education with a two-year degree from Central City Business Institute in Syracuse, New York.
She confessed Christ and united with Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church where she diligently served in the following areas until her health failed: member of the Choir, Missionary Society, the Evangelistic Team, the Finance Committee, Trustee Ministry and she was Church Clerk for 50+ years.
Kate, as she was affectionately known, started her work career at any early age by serving as an attendant for Ms. Blanche Wiggins in Phenix City, Alabama. Her professional career included; Secretary to the Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge in Columbus, GA (she was an Eastern Star), Secretary at the VA Hospital in Tuskegee, AL and Claims Representative for the Social Security Administration in Columbus, Georgia for over 30 years before retiring.
On December 20, 1964 she united in holy matrimony with Amos C. Brown. This union was blessed with two children whom she dearly loved.
Mrs. Brown was an active participant in East Alabama Missionary Baptist Association under the leadership of the late Moderator, Dr. J. H. Flakes, Jr. She was a member of the East Alabama Association Deacons’ Wives Ministry, Matrons Ministry and East Alabama Singing Chorale. She served as a delegate in various conventions and workshops for the East Alabama Association and the National Baptist Convention.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers: Lee Williams, Jr., Robert “Pete” Williams and Rufus “Nag” Williams. Mary Frances Williams Brown departed this life peacefully on the evening of Thursday, January 24, 2013 surrounded by loved ones.
Her precious memories will forever be cherished by: her loving and devoted husband, Amos C. Brown, son, Cedrick J. Brown and daughter, Valeska M. (Joshua, Sr.) Blanding all of Smiths Station, AL; step-son, Frank Hightower, Phenix City, AL; brothers, James Frank (Ozella) Williams, Syracuse, NY and Clarence (Annie Will) Williams, Sr., Smiths Station, AL; sisters, Dorothy Stephens, Smiths Station, AL and Janice (Homer) Johnson, Salem, AL; grandchildren, LaKeita Cain, Cedrick Brown, Jr., Ciera Brown, Franceska Blanding, Joshua Blanding, Jr., Jaleigha Hightower and Zoe’ Hightower; aunt, Bertha Thomas, Smiths Station, AL; uncle, Sidney Brooks, Phenix City, AL; a devoted caregiver and “adopted” sister, Lois Walton, Salem, AL; devoted friend, Annice Johnson, Smiths Station, AL; mother-in-law, Mattie A. Frazier, Cusseta, AL; brothers-in-law, George (Allison) Frazier, Stone Mountain, GA and Joel Stokes, Chino Hills, CA; sisters-in-law, Everlena Williams, Smiths Station, AL and Sallye F. Davis, Cusseta, AL; and, a host of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and friends.