Marie Mitchell Thomason Brown, 93, returned to her Creator at 9 AM Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Simerson Greenhouse at United Methodist Senior Services, where she had resided the last four years. Marie was born on January 24, 1923 in the Longview Community of Pontotoc County, the eldest child of seven children born to John Erschel Thomason and Mamie Hall Thomason. She graduated from Longview High School in 1941, where she was a standout basketball player and started dating her childhood boyfriend, William “Bill” Brown. He answered the call to serve his country during World War II and they were married five days after he returned from active service in 1945 on a country road in Longview by Rev. Hugh Brown, Bill’s brother. Bill and Marie were an active military family for the next couple decades living literally all over the world. A patriotic American herself, she worked for General Electric in Hartford, Connecticut and later for McDonnel-Douglas in Memphis installing electronic circuit boards on bomber and fighter planes. During World War II, she did radio broadcasts chronicling the War and encouraging families to contribute to the war effort and to keep the faith. She developed a lifelong love of American and World History as a soldier’s wife and could recite all the President’s and facts of historical significance right up to the end of her life. She especially cherished the right to vote and never missed an election. She and Bill settled in Tupelo in 1963 after retirement where she was a master homemaker and a doting Mother and Grandmother. Marie was a kind and gentle soul who loved children, keeping up with Mississippi State sports and women’s college basketball especially the Lady Volunteers. A longtime member of the West Jackson Street Baptist Church, she will be sorely missed by a grateful family and many friends.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Bro. Danny Sephton officiating. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10 AM – service time Wednesday only, all at the Tupelo Chapel. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews.
Marie is survived by her children: Jane Brown of Yorkville, TN; Gen. Mitchell Brown, MS National Guard, Retired and his wife, Cathy of Brandon, MS, and Lynda Brown Shindala and her husband, Adnan of Starkville, MS; six grandchildren: Shane Marcy (Amanda), Jason Marcy (Tammy), Drew DeWese (Callie), Mark Shindala (Sarah), Carmen Ditta (George) and Candice Blackford (Chris); twelve great-grandchildren; her six remaining siblings: Mildred T. McCord of Chesterville, Grace Clayton of Pontotoc, MS, Virginia Lindsey of Mooreville, MS, Marilyn Cooper of Wilmington, NC, Eleanor “Ellie” Spradling of Trenton, TN, and John Thomason of New Albany, MS; numerous nieces and nephews and a special friend, Marsha Lindley and her wonderful caregivers at the Simeron Green House. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, SFC William “Bill” Brown on June 17, 1995.
Memorials may be made to Palmer Home for Children, 912 11th Avenue South, Columbus, MS 39701 or Tupelo Veterans Memorial Park, P.O. Box 3608, Tupelo, MS 38803. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net The service may be viewed via livestreaming at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming.
