Mary Brown

Mary Elizabeth Camp Brown, 61, of Brenham, wife of Earl Wayne Brown, went home to be with her Lord on April 13, 2008, after nine months of courageously battling cancer. She was an inspiration to all as her faith in Jesus shined through. Mrs. Brown was born in Birmingham, Alabama on August 4, 1946 to Walter Nolan and Sarah Elizabeth McLaughlin Camp. Mary accepted Christ as her personal Savior as a young child of ten, and was baptized at Seventh Street Baptist Church in Bessemer, Alabama. She graduated from Bellaire High School in Houston in 1965, where she was voted the Distributive Education Sweetheart. Mary attended business college after high school. On January 29, 1982, she married Wayne Brown in Houston, Texas in the home of her sister. Mary worked for many years as a secretary in banks and for McDermott, Fluor, Daniel, and Toyo Engineering Firms. After moving to Brenham in 2001, she was employed with Germania Insurance Co. as a Claims Department secretary. Mary was a member of First Baptist Church in Brenham, where she faithfully sang each Sunday in the Worship Choir and often sang soprano solos. She was the high soprano in the First Baptist Church ladies ensemble, TAPESTRY, and enjoyed rehearsals each week with them. She was a beloved member of the Virtuous Women Sunday School class. Mary loved creating handwork pieces, and her passion was quilting. She was an avid reader of quilting magazines, and also enjoyed cross-stitching, crocheting, sewing, and creating beautiful quilts and other handmade creations that she lovingly gave away to family and friends. She enjoyed reading and special outings with her beloved husband, Wayne. Mary relished music of every kind, but her favorites were classical and religious music. She played the piano beautifully, and blessed the hearts of many with her lovely soprano voice. Her favorite times were those spent with her family. Survivors include her husband, Earl Wayne Brown; her mother, Sarah Elizabeth McLaughlin Camp of Houston; son Richard Nolen Sellers and wife Melissa of Houston; Richard Wayne Brown and wife Shelly; John Russell Brown; Natalie Annette Farrell and husband Mike; grandchildren: Jesse, Sarah, and Rebekah Brown, Garrett Weaser and Brianne Farrell; a sister, Linda Carol Camp Shivers of Houston; brother Walter Nolen Camp and wife Michelle of Sugar Land; nephew, Craig Mitchell Shivers, Jr. and wife Beth of Houston; nephew, Michael Scott Shivers and wife Nadia of The Woodlands; niece, Whitney Lauren Shivers-Mehaffy of Houston; nephew, Brian Christopher Camp of Austin; uncle, Richard Edward McLaughlin and wife Patsy and their children Keith and Ken; uncle, William Erwin McLaughlin; cousin, Bill McLaughlin and wife Katrina and their children Patrick and Ryan; and other aunts and uncles, Grace Breakfield, Jenny McDowell, Imogene McDowell, Gary and Joan Camp, Mary Lee Whitley, Betty Drisdale, and Earlene Hancock. She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Nolan Camp. Funeral services for Mary E. Brown will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at First Baptist Church in Brenham, with Rev. Stephen E. Ponder and Jay Foster officiating. Burial will follow in Atkinson Cemetery in Chappell Hill. The family will receive friends and relatives at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Serving as pallbearers are Richard Sellers, Walter Camp, Brian Camp, Garrett Weaser, Ron Brown, Jim Brown, Mike Farrell, and Richard Brown. Honorary pallbearers are John R. Brown, Mike Brown, John Buford Langston, Bracy A. Bledsoe, and Dr. Raj Cheruku. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham.