Sarah Jane Brown
Obituary Information
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july 1, 1897 - may 5, 1985
On a bright Sunday morning, May 5, 1985, Jesus came back as He has promised and took with Him our beloved SARAH. She was the fifth in a family of eight children, born of Thomas Elroy and Julia Smith, on July 1, 1897. Sarah was eighty-seven years of age at her passing.
She became the devoted wife of George A. Brown in 1915. They planned to celebrate a 70th wedding anniversary on June 29th of 1985.. The beautiful union of this couple was blessed with ten children, six daughters, Clarice, Dorothy, Juliette, Hilah, Augustine and Bette, and four sons, George, Harold, T. Elroy and Earl.
The love of this 5 ft. 1 in. lady captivated the hearts of all who knew her. She followed the word in the footsteps of Jesus, as she willingly and lovingly gave of herself to serve her fellow man. Her entire life was devoted and dedicated to making others around her happy.
She was survived by: a faithful and loving husband, ten children, one sister, Hilah Francis of Philadelphia, one sister-in-law, Addye Smith, thirty-one grandchildren, and one great-grandchild at her passing. She left behind a legacy of love, faith, fortitude and courage. Though slight of build, she was a giant among mankind. She taok with her our love and admiration.
Funeral Services were held on Thursday, May 9, 1985 at St. Cecelia's Roman Catholic Church with Father Sterling and Father Blackwell officiating.
Pallbearers were Mark Glaze, Martin Glaze, Steven Brown, George Brown,III, John Gloster, and Anthony Carpenter. Honorary Pallbearers were Charles Richardson, Jr., Harold Brown, Jr., Jeffrey Brown, Harold Richardson, and Michael Press.
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At the passing of sarah brown May 5, 1985
I just lost my grandmother this morning. I say my grandmother because, even thouI had two, the other passed away when I was still very young and I have only dim, though loving memories of her. No, but this was the feisty, grand old matriarch of my mother's family who had just passed away. I have burning, glowing memories of her loving me and "raising" me throughout my life. This "grandmother's love" was known by many Who called her "grandma," or great grandma, or great-great grandma. And it was the kind of unyielding, ever-pervasive love that did not diminish because it was shared by scores of children and grandchildren, but, instead, grew in the shared amazement and feeling of blessedness at the wonder of this great love.
This grandmother of mine, and her loving husband of 70 years (the grand patriarch of the family) were/are the hub of the whole extended family. Even when my grandmother became too frail or senile to attend most family events and functions (at the very end of her life), we all knew that she was still there, in spirit and in our hearts and minds.
In this sense, I know she will always be. this grandmother known as mom, grandma, great grandma, great-great grandma, affected the lives of all of us i ways we could not even imagine until the realization of her passing. there was always a great feeling of peace =, strength and security in this family that had two living grandparents in their eighties. Everything seemed tied together so well; there was a feeling of "roots" without ever having to open a dusty old census book or consult a family tree. There was a living, breathing sense of family togetherness and unity. this sense of togetherness, I feel now, will live on and keep us together. It is my grandmother's legacy; that and an enduring "grandmother's love" that will live in all of our hearts and souls.....forever.
---A Loving Grandchild
The The Brown Legacy Family Adventures
Historical timeline
1897 July 1
Sarah Jane Smith was born in Shady Side, Maryland. this date was a Wednesday, and she was born at 12:00 Noon
1900 March 18
Mary Pearl Smith (1900 - 1974), sister, was born in Maryland
1902 December 2
Hilah E. Smith (1902 - 1985), sister, was born in Maryland
1910 July
Lucile Elizabeth Smith (1910 - 1944), sister, was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
1915 June 29
Sarah Jane Smith and George Augustine Brown, Sr. were married. The service was officiated by Rev. N.P. Dennis at Saint Francis Church
The The Brown Legacy Family
1915 December 9
Clarice Elizabeth Brown (1915 - 2007), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1918 May 20
Dorothy Mae Brown (1918 - 2012), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1920 July 10
Juliette Marie Brown (1920 - 2014), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1923 January 3
George Augustine Brown, Jr. (1923 - 1994), son, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1925 March 30
Harold "Cookie" Bernard Brown (1925 - 2004), son, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1925 November 2
Julia A. Bolden (1865 - 1925), mother died in Washington, D.C.
The Brown Legacy Family Adventures
1927 July 26
Hilah Teresa Brown (1927 - 2010), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1929 June 16
Thomas Elroy Smith (1875 - 1929), father, died in Shady Side, Maryland (Anne Arundel County).
1929 December 1
Augustine Theresa Brown (1929 - 2018), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1932 May 22
Thomas "Beaver" Elroy Brown (1932 - 2018), son, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1934 December 4
Earl "Plump" Joseph Brown (1934 - 2016), son, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
1938 April 7
Bette Ann Brown (1938 - ), daughter, born in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Brown Legacy Family Recipes
1940 November 10
Julia Augustine Smith (1890 - 1940), sister, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1941 February 18
Helen Cecilia Smith (1888 - 1941), sister, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1944 May 26
Lucile Elizabeth Smith (1910 - 1944), sister, died in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
1963 July 11
Teresa A. Smith (1894 - 1963), sister, died
1965 October 28
Thomas Elroy Smith (1892 - 1965), brother, died in Maryland.
1974 August 27
Mary Pearl Smith (1900 - 1974), sister, died in baltimore, Maryland.
The The Brown Legacy Family
1985 May 5
Sarah Jane Smith Brown died in Baltimore, Maryland.