Mrs. Missouri Bell Brown

Celebrating The Life of Missouri Bell Brown: Missouri Bell Johnson was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on September 7, 1925. She was the only child of Tennessee and W. O. Johnson. Missouri graduated from Cameron Street High School in Canton Mississippi at the age of sixteen. She later graduated from Mary Holmes Junior College, and attended Tougaloo and Jackson State colleges before moving to Detroit, MI in 1944 with her mother. Shorty after arriving in Detroit, she met and married her husband, Wade Brown Sr. From this union, they had eight children, JoLeta, Wade Jr., Byron, Linnie, Marvin, Melvin, Otis and Preston. Without question, Missouri's children were the pride of her heart. Missouri was employed by the City of Detroit in its Employment and Training Department as a counselor from 1966 - 1983. In addition to her primary job, she also performed community service by organizing community groups; these youth clubs and mother clubs partook in recreational and cultural activities. Her passion for assisting youth resulted in her becoming a camp fire leader and supervisor of the Co-ettes, an all-female youth group. Missouri organized various activities and trips, such as those to Niagra Falls and Mackinaw Island for cultural enrichment of its members. The Co-ettes were initially together as teenagers, yet many former members remain close friends to this day. On par with Missouri's passion for helping youth was her passion for the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World. She became one of the first members to join Nettie Carter Jackson Temple No. 1179 in 1964; she remained a member until 1989, when she founded and organized Omega Temple #1364; this building was the site of her summer youth program. Due to Missouri's organizational ability and creativity, she received numerous awards and accolades. The Past Grand Daughter Ruler Honors, received in August 1976 in Miami Florida, was a major highlight of her life. In 1987 she was enlisted in Who's Who in Professional and Executive Women, and also received her Bachelor's Degree from Wayne State University. Missouri Brown's greatest passion was music. She loved various styles of music, particularly blues and gospel. She learned how to play the piano as a teenager, and later played the organ at several State Conventions for the Elks and the piano at various churches. Missouri was a member of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, where she served on the Mother's Board and was honored annually for her "Golden Circle" status - members who had reached (80) plus years of age. She loved her church family and pastor, Marvin Youmans. She also sang and spread her love of music to all of her children. There was rarely- if ever, a family gathering or program in which her children or grandchildren did not sing, play or perform. Missouri often played her signature song on the piano - Hamp's Boogie Woogie. She also was a writer who enjoyed making people laugh; various members of the Elks enjoyed her original skits. It's not ironic that one of her published books of skits entitled, Put a Little Fun in Your Life, is a good summation of this God-fearing and God-loving woman who enjoyed having fun and giving back to others.

Mrs. Missouri Bell Brown

September 7, 1925 - February 6, 2015