Reba Wilson Brown, age 82, passed away at her daughter’s home Wednesday night, Nov. 29, 2017, in Cypress Inn, Tennessee. Reba was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2014. She also had osteoporosis, and the two combined made life challenging. She was independent and strong willed and remained that way till her final breath. She slipped away from this earth in the arms of her beloved daughter and son-in-law.
Reba was born Aug. 22, 1935, to Shelby and Ida Wilson in Wayne County, Tennessee. She attended Fairview School and graduated from Collinwood High School, Collinwood, Tennessee, in 1953. Her first job was at the Florence Packing House. She later worked as a substitute teacher at Collinwood elementary, middle, and high schools. She worked as a quality control inspector for 14 years at Angelica Mfg. in Collinwood and then spent her last 14 years working as the part-time receptionist at Collinwood middle and elementary schools. She made friends everywhere she went. Her sweet smile and kind nature made you love her. She was a true friend to all.
Reba married Robert Brown, of Iuka, Mississippi, on Aug. 22, 1964. They made their home in Florence, Alabama until his death on Jan. 24, 1974. She later returned to Wayne County and lived in the Fairview community. Reba loved her family and was the best mother, mother-in-law, and nana you could find. She attended every basketball, soccer, football game and beauty pageant the girls participated in and proudly was their number one fan. She was included in every aspect of Lisa’s life. The true love of a mother is never ending.
Reba was a lifetime member of Railroad Methodist Church. She served as secretary/treasurer for over 25 years. She loved her church and was a faithful member for as long as she was able to attend.
She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Brown Parker and husband, Myers; granddaughters, Jessica McDaniel and husband, Brandon, and Whitney Parker; and stepson, Bobby Brown and wife, Helen.
Serving as pallbearers are Brandon McDaniel, Jeff Davis, Tommy White, Robert Vandiver, Dwayne Pigg, and Caleb Alhashmi. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Butler and Larry Nelson.
Visitation will be today at Shackelford Funeral Home in Collinwood, Tennessee, from 10 a.m. to service time at 1 p.m. Greg Pigg and Robert Vandiver will officiate. Burial will follow at Railroad Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or the Railroad Cemetery Fund at the Bank of Collinwood, P.O. Box 8, Collinwood, TN 38450
