Marie Iverson Brown fell asleep in Christ on Tuesday, March 03, 2015. She was born May 10, 1927, to Noonan Z. Riley and Winnie Sheffield Riley of Dorsey Mississippi. Marie graduated Salutatorian from Mooreville High School. She married Iver Lee “Mike” Iverson on August 4, 1946 and soon started a family. She worked for a few years at the old downtown Sears building as a telephone sales person, but for most of her life, walked along side her husband, Mike and later her husband James R. Brown. Marie raised her children at Harrisburg Baptist Church on West Main Street where she made many happy memories. She and Mike moved to Texarkana, Texas and then Lubbock, Texas investing in Hancock Fabric stores. When they moved back to Tupelo, they joined West Jackson Street Baptist Church where her children were attending. She taught a ladies Sunday school class and prepared luncheons for the older women of the church. For the past 20 years, Marie has participated in a small home church pastored by Sonny and Linda Smith. Marie was known by her family and others in the Body of Christ for her spiritual gift of giving. She was a woman of abiding faith and always encouraged others when their faith was being tried. She loved reading, especially the Christian classics. She dearly loved her grandchildren and adored playing with her great-grandchildren.
Marie is survived by her children, Sandra Tigrett, Jerry Iverson (Sonja) and Denise Alderman (Bob); her grandchildren, Hugh D. “Kip” Tigrett III (Nicole), Kevin Tigrett, Chad Iverson (Lesley), Brooke Iverson and Joyce Marie Coward (John); her great-grandchildren, Harrison, Hugh Porter and Hudson Tigrett, Dalton Tigrett, Franklin, Jack and Cooper Coward, Tripp and Cora Iverson; her sister, Joan Cotham (Lou); many nieces and nephews.
Marie was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Mike Iverson; her husband of one year, James R. Brown; her parents, N.Z. and Winnie Riley; four sisters, Reba Riley, Evie Hodges (Tyson) and their son Joe Hodges, Ina Duncan (Charles) and their son Mickey, and Thelma Shumpert (Billy); five brothers, Ernest Riley (Clara) and their children Ray and Jane, Lawrence Riley (Zora) and their son Butch, Wade Riley (Jewel), Leon Riley and Carl Riley who died in World War II.
Pallbearers will be Bill Shumpert, Bob Shumpert, Kip Tigrett, Kevin Tigrett, Chad Iverson, Kirk Cotham, John Coward and Craig Cotham.
The funeral will be held at Lee Memorial Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2 PM with Pastor Sonny Smith officiating. Private burial will follow in Dorsey Memorial Cemetery. Lee Memorial Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation will be 11 – 2 Friday.
Memorials may be made to Sanctuary Hospice House • PO Box 2177 • Tupelo, MS 38803
