Celebration of Life

Reverend Annie B. Brown transitioned from this physical life to eternal spiritual life on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the age of 97.  She was born in Surry County, Virginia to the union of Jesse Lee Blizzard and Cora Lee Bailey Blizzard on August 26, 1926.

Mrs. Brown was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Frederick Alexander Brown, Sr., her daughter, Annie "Ann/Teen" Celestine Brown Cherry, her son James "JT" Tyrone Brown, and great-grand-daughter, Simone Eden Brown.  Also, predeceasing her were six brothers and a sister.  Surviving family members and close relatives to include sons, Frederick Alexander Brown, Jr., Marcus Wendell Brown, MD and Shiron Lee Brown; daughters, Vivian Loraine Brown Jackson and Michelle Patrice Brown Tucker; sisters, Eunice Blizzard Elliot and Marjorie Blizzard Stephenson. Mrs. Brown also leaves to celebrate her transition, a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, multiple nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mrs. Brown, affectionately known as "Sister", was the oldest daughter in her family of ten children, and the matriarch of her extended family.  Not only was she a loving, kind wife and mother, but she was also a beloved daughter, sister, grandmother, and aunt. Even her sons-in-law and daughters-in-law loved and found no conflict with her.  Her counsel was freely given, but only given when asked. She greatly enjoyed opening her home for large family gatherings at Thanksgiving and the annual summer cook-out/fish fry for the family's multiple August birthdays. She also enjoyed hosting summer holiday gatherings at her cottage in Surry, County.  She took great motherly pride in each one of her children's and grandchildren's accomplishments, with full knowledge she had lived to see her prayers answered in each of their lives.  She, along with her husband Fred, could also take pleasure in the knowledge of the many people they helped both financially and emotionally without asking for publicity or fanfare.

Annie obtained her driver's license at the enlightened age of fifty-five, but once she attained this milestone she was off and running with Michelle, the much younger of her brood, in tow. Prior to that, she could be seen for many years getting in her exercise by running to the bus stop.

Annie was known for her frugality. A friend once marveled that she could feed a family of eight with ONE chicken. Whether it was canning vegetables from Fred's garden, the weekly Saturday night baking of hot buttered rolls, or the yearly coloring of Easter eggs for the church's hunt, Annie did it with passion and pride.  She was a lifelong care giver to young and old which blessed her with even more extended family members. After she and Fred retired she developed a passion for crabbing and kept her freezer well stocked from the local Hampton waters.  Annie never wore pants, loved to sing (albeit poorly), play her piano and she was well known for scribbling multiple to-do-lists which she scattered about the kitchen.

Reverend Brown was a lifelong member of Park Place Baptist Church, joining and being baptized as a teenager. She served as church secretary for many years before relinquishing that responsibility to her daughter Ann Cherry. Receiving her ordination to the ministry of God in her middle years, she enjoyed preaching at various churches in Hampton, Newport News, and Surry County.

2 Samuel 3:38 (inspired): "Do you not know that a queen and great woman has fallen on this day?"

Annie "Sister" Brown transitioned the way she lived, with strong faith, with courage, with grace, and with the love of her family. Annie was truly a believer and a woman of God.  She could actually be convicted in a court of law or judgment of being a Christian.  She will be truly missed.

Acknowledgement

The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for your love, prayers, expressions of sympathy, acts of kindness and support shown to our family during our mother's passing.   We would also like to give a special thank-you, for the dedicated time and care provided to our mother during her weakest days and final hours, to her caregivers:

Miss Valerie G.

Ms. Jeanette E.

Ms. Felicia J.

Ms. Tawana C.

Hospice Care Nurse

Funeral Service and Interment

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 24, 2024 at O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home.  Interment will follow in St. Paul Holiness Church Cemetery, Dendron, VA.  O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.