Rachel Delena Brown

Rachel DeLena Wood Brown was born on September 12, 1949 in Center, Texas. Her loving parents, Earlie and Virgie Bell, moved the family to Lufkin later that year, soon afterward settling on the property where DeLena lived for her entire life. She grew up there in the country with her brother, James, and her cousin, Linda, riding horses and raising chickens, shelling peas and canning peaches. She graduated from Lufkin High School with honors in 1968 and began working at Thompson’s Pharmacy. She later went on to work as a pharmacy technician at the Lufkin State School for 26 years.

DeLena learned precious truths about the Bible from her dear mother and grandmother, and she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on July 24, 1964. Her faith and trust in Jehovah’s promises helped her weather many storms and tragedies in her later years.

In 1979, DeLena married Randy Brown, and together they had 3 children, raising them on the family land, in much the same way she grew up. She lost her husband to illness in 2005, and then retired shortly after. She spent her remaining years connecting with family, teaching others the truths she loved from the Bible, and meticulously researching her family’s ancestry and sharing her findings with anyone who would listen. She loved animals, scrapbooking, and watching Jeopardy. She never missed a Civil War question. She loved her children, and she loved her dear friends, who were just as precious to her as the family she cherished. Most of all, she loved her God, Jehovah, and remained loyal to him throughout her life. She kept his promises in front of her and longed for the day when she would be reunited with her loved ones.

DeLena was known by many names. To some, she was “Rachel”, some called her “Aunt Dee”, and others just knew her as “Mom”. She was loved by them all.

DeLena was preceded in death by her parents, James Earlie Wood and Virgie Belle Wood, her brothers, James Ellis Wood and baby David, her husband, Randy Brown, and her son, Jesse Brown.

She is survived by her son Daniel Brown and daughter-in-law, Lillie Brown, her daughter Rachel Brown, her close cousin, Linda B Hutto, her nephews, Johnathan and Jason Wood, her niece, Amber Bortness, her dear friend, Doris Sloan, several special cousins, and many, many close friends. She will not be forgotten.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Rick Gill, DeLena’s longtime friend and little brother.