Brown
Ellen Banks Brown, 81, passed away Saturday, December 28, 2024.
She was born October 23, 1943 in Pierce County to the late Leroy Cobb and Henrietta Williams.
She attended Lee
Street
Public
School and was a quiet woman.
She attended Bethel Temple First Born Church under the leadership of Bishop Avery Jewel Myles. She loved flowers and enjoyed gardening. Her pastimes also included yard sales, coloring, watching westerns, CSI and “the stories”. She was an avid reader and loved reading novels by Patterson, Grisham, Sheldon and of course, the Bible.
She worked many jobs to support her family from field work to the Pierce County Nursing Home, childcare, housekeeping and she was the best ironer.
In addition her parents, she was preceded in death by her adopted parents, Pauline and Henry Banks; her husband, John Brown; three siblings, Carolyn Goodwine, Leroy Garner and Walt Lane; son-in-law, Eddie Simpson; granddaughter, Tabitha Harris and great-grandchildren, Octavius Simpson and Sol’styce Brown.
She leaves to cherish her memories four children, Tina Simpson and Lashel Brown, both of Blackshear, Christopher Brown Sr., Waycross and Timothy Banks (Lillie), El Monte, CA; grandchildren, Tineisha McNair, Kenya Brewton (Jermaine Sr.), Keyori Simpson (Quentin Kinlaw), Darius Corbitt, Joshua Taylor, Tre’von Taylor and Omar Jinks Jr., all of Blackshear, Christopher Brown Jr., Sanford, FL and D’Andre Brown, Waycross; great-grandchildren, Jermaine Brewton Jr. (Lorianna), TVotny Brewton, Miracle Brewton, Kimya Smith, Patience Smith, Johnia Smith, Shakira Smith, Sincere McNair and Kaliya Kinlaw, all of Blackshear, Salana Brown, Devinte’ Theiss and Chenelle Brown, all of Waycross; siblings, Pearl Allen, Lucille Faulk, Michelle Hollis, Annette Twyne, Pamelia Twyne and Marion Twyne, all of Yonkers, NY; sisters-inlaw, Christine Lane, Blackshear and Sweetie Mae Brown, Brunswick and a host of friends.
A celebration of life service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 4, 2025, from the Bethel Temple First Born Church, 209 Burroughs Street, Blackshear. Elder Dondia Cuttray, pastor, delivered words of comfort. Elder Starlon Byrd presided. Pastor Marie Rainge read an Old Testament Scripture and Evangelist Jeannette Cuttray read a New Testament Scripture. Deaconess Linda Tuttle read a poem.
Musical selections were offered by Sister Germiska McGauley-Miles, soloist and members of the Combined Choir.
Interment followed in the Blackshear City Cemetery, Taylor Street, Blackshear.
Active pallbearers were Jermaine Brewton Sr., Jermaine Brewton Jr., TVotny Brewton, Quentin Kinlaw, Timothy Felton, Omar Jinks Sr., Chase McGauley and Timothy Harris.
Flower attendants were granddaughters and great-granddaughters.
The repast was held at the Session Hill Community Center in Blackshear following services.
Rainge Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Blackshear was in charge of arrangements.
