Minnie Lee Brown

Minnie Lee Brown, who took great joy in serving God and people. She truly

loved the Lord, and she devoted every area of her life to doing His will, whether it

was taking care of her home, helping people in need, or serving in her church.

Minnie was born on a Saturday — March 24, 1923 — in Jackson, Tennessee.

She was the youngest of ten children born to Verna Holmes-Steward and Charlie

Steward. Her parents and her siblings (Willie, Almon, Lawson, Curtis, Winford,

Charlie James, Luther, Prentice, and Elnora) preceded her in death.

Minnie attended St. John Elementary School in Madison County and Alan White

High School in Whitesville, Tennessee. At the tender age of fourteen, she decided

to move to Chicago after visiting her Uncle Roman.

Soon after moving to Chicago, she joined Greater St. John Baptist Church, where

she also worked as a secretary. She ended up getting much more than a job at St.

John’s. It was there where she met her future husband, Rev. Sherman Brown of 52

years. After marrying Rev. Brown in 1949, Minnie joined Mt. Edna Baptist Church

to serve and worship the Lord with her husband. Minnie and Sherman’s family

would expand to include four beautiful children: Verna, Sherman Jr., Jennifer, and

Fred. Minnie devoted her life to caring for her children and her household.

She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy …

Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

~Proverbs 31:20, 25

Minnie was known to have a big heart. Outside of volunteering at her church,

she loved to serve others. If someone was in pain, she felt it — even if she didn’t

know the person. Minnie would easily cry at the suffering of others. And she

didn’t just wait for people to seek her help. In her spare time, she sought ways to

help others and never hesitated to tell a perfect stranger her testimony in hopes of

winning a soul to Christ. One of her favorite places to volunteer was The Back to

God All Nations Church, where she worked with children and provided meals for

less fortunate people. She also loved to rejoice with others during their times of

triumph, and she loved to laugh. She had a great sense of humor.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD,

she shall be praised. ~Proverbs 31:30

Minnie’s lengthy journey on earth is a testament to her faith. She trusted God with

all that He gave her and gave it back to Him. At 92 years old, Minnie’s journey came

to a peaceful end at Holy Cross Hospital with her first and last born at her side. She

was truly a Proverbs 31 woman who fought a good fight and kept the faith. She has

finished her race, and laid up for her is a crown of righteousness (2 Cor. 4:7-8).

Minnie leaves to cherish her memory her children Verna Brown of Chicago, Illinois;

Sherman Brown Jr. of Evanston, Illinois; Jennifer Brown of Rockford, Illinois; and

Fred Brown of Chicago, Illinois; her grandchildren Nathaniel Aubrey, Fred Brown

II, and Jessica Brown, all of Chicago, Illinois; and a host of friends.