Mary Brown

Mary Lou Stokes Moreland-Brown was the daughter of the late Hollie Neal Stokes and Leona (Davis)Stokes. Mary was born on October 13, 1916, in Chinquapin, N.C. Mary had three sisters Geneva (Stokes) Brown, Doreatha (Stokes)Sharpless, Lydia Mae (Stokes)Adams, and one brother Hollie Neal Stokes Jr. all preceded her in death.

Mary attended Chinquapin public school and graduated from Burgaw High school in 1935.

Mary joined the St. Lewis Baptist Church at an early age. She attended Sunday school, sang on the Youth Choir and later the Senior Choir.

Mary moved to Trenton, NJ in 1937 and there she joined the Galilee Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Samuel Bagley. She sang on the Senior Choir, Gospel Chorus and was President of the United Women’s Club.

Mary met and married the late James B. Moreland in 1938 and to this union three children were born, James B. Moreland Jr., Carl Franklin Moreland and Gwendolyn Kay (Moreland)Bivins.

Upon moving to New Jersey Mary pursued a career in dressmaking and interior design, she served Trenton and the vicinity in this capacity for over forty years.

Mary enjoyed traveling and traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa.

In 1974 Mary married Harold Brown, after his death in 1996 she moved to Fort Worth, Texas to be near her daughter Gwen and her grandchildren. Mary joined the Great Commission Baptist church where the Rev Douglas E. Brown is the pastor.

Mary was a quiet and reserved person who loved people and always had a warm smile for everyone she met. She is dearly loved by her family and was affectionally known as Grana.

Her favorite saying was

“Only what you do for Christ will last”

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Brown, her son James B. Moreland Jr. (Joyce), stepdaughter Regina White (James), great-granddaughter Shaneice Brittingham and great-grandson Jordan Asante Jackson.

Offering Thanks for Mary’s life is son Carl Moreland (Elinor) daughter Gwendolyn K. Bivins, stepdaughter Cheryl Brown-Boone (Chester) grandchildren Samuel B. Bivins (Vicky) Mark A. Bivins (Dawn) Morieann M. Jackson (Timothy) Jeffery B. Moreland (Adriene) Terri Lynn Landrum (Bobby) Eric Moreland (Heather) Michelle Moreland Marlene Moreland-Carr (Benjamin) Susan Moreland-Brittingham Erick Cunningham and Cedrick Cunningham. 12 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces nephews other relatives and friends.