Reverend Genevieve Range Brown of Joliet, Illinois
December 22, 1938 – February 12, 2019
Funeral service for The Reverend Genevieve Range Brown of Joliet, IL will be Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church (1404 S. Briggs Street – Joliet, AL) with her son Bishop-Elect Steven Evans officiating.
Reverend Brown is the mother of Dr. Tammy (Reverend Willie) Alexander (Huntsville, AL); Mrs. Rhonda Range (Neal) Lockhart (Rhonda Ealy formerly of Huntsville); grandmother of Amara, Micah, and Seth Alexander, and Kai Ealy.
VISITATION: Minor-Morris Funeral Home, Ltd. (Joliet, IL)
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Fri., Feb. 15, 2019
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, Sat., Feb. 16, 2019
FINAL ARRANGEMENTS ENTRUSTED TO:
Minor-Morris Funeral Home, Ltd. – 112 Richards Street – Joliet, IL 60433 ~ https://www.minormorrisfuneralhome.com/index.php
A LIFE WELL SPENT
Genevieve Range Brown was born on December 22, 1938. She was the youngest child born to Charles and Estella Evans who both preceded her in death, along with her siblings, Charles Jr. and Ethel Mae Bankston.
Preacher, Teacher…
Reverend Genny Brown was a woman of God who accepted Christ under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Morris H. Smith. She began her Christian ministry as a Sunday School teacher. Her love for teaching the Word of God grew and she eventually served as a Vacation Bible School Director, Sunday School Superintendent, Spirit Led Women Director and Bible Study leader. She was ordained into the gospel ministry on May 16, 1993. The last three years of her life were spent as a member of Leap of Faith Ministries, under the leadership of her eldest son, Bishop-Elect Steven Evans.
Trailblazer…
Genevieve was a trailblazer. She never shied away from a challenge. She was a woman of firsts. She was the first African American cheerleader at Joliet Township High School and the first African American woman to run for the School Board in Joliet. In the 1970’s she became the first African American female wrestling referee in the state of Illinois. She created the Genevieve Brown Scholarship for high school teen mothers as a way to encourage them to continue their education.
Servant Leader…
Throughout her life, Genny served. When she wasn’t working with Mended Hearts, a support group, she found herself part of after her FIRST bypass surgery, (she had two – twenty years apart), she could be found volunteering at the Salvation Army or reading to children at a local school. As a young mother of five, she served as the PTA president and the band booster president.
Community Advocate…
Genny was an advocate for all. For her community work she received many awards and recognitions. Some include: Mother’s Against Gangs, Joliet NAACP Phenomenal Women, Woman of Distinction (Midwest Christian Women’s Conference), Vivian Pennymon Community Service Award (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority) and the Community Service Award (National Hook Up of Black Women).
Prayer Warrior…
It seemed Mother Brown had a direct line to heaven. When you asked her to pray for you it was a done deal. She was an intercessor and God answered. Her prayer closet was the kitchen table and when your name made it to the notepad on the refrigerator, strongholds were broken and lives were changed.
Mother, Mommy, Mama, Mudder, Madame, Grams, Grandma, Granny GG…
…her greatest role. Her legacy lives on in the lives of her children, Bishop-Elect Steven (Alicia) Evans, R. Dale (Valerie) Evans, Dr. Tammy (Willie) Alexander, Rhonda (Neal) Lockhart, Elder David (Sidonia) Range, sister in love, Margaret Lively, godchildren, DonnaRae Spivey, Troy Cicero Jr., Taylor Cicero, and Kemyra Genny-Johnay Davis, cousins, friends and the next generation of trailblazers, servant leaders and community advocates, her 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
In August of 2018 Genevieve Range Brown began packing to move from Joliet, IL. She once said, “I’m not sure if I’m packing to move to Alabama or to my eternal home. On February 12, 2019, the answer was revealed. God kept His promise “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”, John 14:3.
