Lovie V. Brown

Evangelist 1st Lady Lovie (Lovely) Brown was born to the late Mr. James K. Johnson & Zellia Mae William Johnson on June 12, 1939, in Coffeeville, Mississippi. Both parents; grandparents; seven brothers; two sisters; and a beloved husband, the Late Reverend Fred Brown Jr. preceded her in death. Evangelist Brown professed her faith at an early age at Smith Chapel M. B. Church in Coffeeville, Mississippi. She was a 1961 graduate from Central High School and moved to Memphis, Tennessee after college, where she met and marred her husband of 43 years on December 5, 1963, the late Reverend Fred Brown Jr. Their union was blessed with three daughters. In 1970 Evangelist Brown served with her husband at Greater Saint Thomas Missionary Baptist Church on Butler St. under the leadership of The Reverend John Frank Harris Sr. She faithfully served there until her husband accepted his call to preach the Gospel of Christ. In 1975, Evangelist Brown’s husband became the pastor of Eternal Peace Missionary Baptist Church, there she served in all capacities of the church until June 18, 1978, where her husband accepted the appointment of Pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church. A life lived to the fullest came to a peaceful end on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Highland Health & Rehabilitation Center, Memphis, Tennessee. Evangelist 1st Lady Lovie Brown is survived by her three daughters: Evangelist Gwendolyn Kay Brown, Nashville, Tennessee; Aretha Renea Brown, Memphis, Tennessee and Felicia LaShun Brown, Memphis, Tennessee. She also leaves behind three sisters: Opal Fay Taylor, Memphis, Tennessee, Odelia (John) Harris, Memphis, Tennessee, and Johnnie Ruffin, Memphis, Tennessee. Her mother-in-law Artrial Brown, Memphis, Tennessee; five sister-in-law, Irma Baker and Bobbie Smith, Chicago, Illinois; Shirley (Allen) Lanier, St. Louis, Missouri, Stephanie Hurst and Latarshia Brown, Memphis, Tennessee. Two brothers-in-law; Rodney (Chandra) Brown, Memphis, Tennessee and Donald Greenleaf, Memphis, Tennessee, several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. A very special cousin-in-law that is considered a brother-in-law Jeffery (Gale) Bean, Batesville, Mississippi. She also leaves a very special person not only was her niece-in-law but a friend Lizzie Baker, Memphis, Tennessee. She also leaves two very special people that became her godson & goddaughter, Reverend George (Shemika) Scott, Memphis, Tennessee. She also leaves two special nieces she considered as her own children: Zellia Au Jessica Ruffin, Memphis, Tennessee and Gladys (Tony) Bibbs, Oakland, Tennessee.

Lovie V. Brown

June 12, 1939 - July 6, 2025