Rose Marie "Brownie" Groff

Rose Marie (Brownie) Groff, 94, passed into the presence of her Lord and Saviour on January 9, 2023, from the home of her daughter Susan and son-in-law Jim, where she had been lovingly cared for since November.

Rose Marie was born in rural Maryland on August 8, 1928, to Francis and Marie Brown. She attended nurses training in Baltimore where she became affectionately known as “Brownie.” She came to know Christ through the witness of one of her nursing friends who took her to church. It was there that she met Rodger Groff, whom she married in 1951. The couple took Romans 12:1–2 as their life verses and began a lifetime of service to the Lord first at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where Brownie was the head nurse at the campus hospital. They moved back to Maryland in 1956 and for twelve years were part of the Peter and John Radio Ministry, working at River Valley Ranch, a western-style Christian camp. Brownie served as the camp nurse, a job that was quite stressful at times since it included being on call at the weekly rodeos with their requisite bull rides and clown acts. In 1970, the Groffs moved to New Jersey where they served in the home office of Trans World Radio (TWR), a global Christian broadcaster. When TWR moved to Cary, North Carolina, the Groffs moved with them and remained there until 2012 when they moved back to Greenville, South Carolina, to be near their daughters.

Brownie excelled at making a house a home and in using her home to lovingly minister to her family and friends. She and Rodger were “given to hospitality” and especially enjoyed hosting dinners, breakfasts, and overnight guests. Brownie was Rodger’s invaluable assistant in all his projects, from handing him tools to brainstorming solutions to problems. She had a heart for people and was always trying to think of ways to help and encourage them.

Brownie is survived by her daughters, Judy Brown (Larry) and Susan Breisch (Jim); five grandchildren: Jessica Jackson (Jonathan), Michael Breisch, John Breisch (Kellie), Sam Brown (Sarah), and Heather Breisch; eight great-grandchildren: Addison Breisch, Kenadee Breisch, Mabrey Jackson, Emerson Breisch, Holyn Jackson, Jack Brown, Titus Jackson, and Arlo Brown; and a sister, Peggy Ecker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rodger Groff; her grandson Jeffrey Breisch; and her sister Betty Casey.

The funeral service will be held at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Century Drive, 311 Century Drive, Greenville, South Carolina, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16th, with burial immediately following at Graceland East Memorial Park, 2206 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville, South Carolina. The family will receive friends at the mortuary beginning at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to missionaries Dr. Tom and Melissa Kendall, who are serving the Lord in Togo, West Africa, with ABWE International. The Kendalls have held a special place in Brownie’s heart in recent years. https://www.abwe.org/work/missionaries/thomas-and-melissa-kendall

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mackeycenturydrive.com for the Groff family.