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Obituary for HORTENSE AVON BROWN
Hortense Avon (Dixon) Brown was born on June 22, 1916, to the late Avolia (Parran) and Benjamin Alexander Dixon in Calvert County Maryland. She departed this life peacefully on September 6, 2018 surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
As the first-born grandchild, at the age of five years old, Horrense was sent to live with her grand parents Christiana Parran, affectionately known as "Dear Maw" and James Parran (Papa). There she lived with several of her cousins, James, Oscar, and Tee. She had so many fond memories of her grandparents, especially Dear Maw, and shared these memories with her family often. One of her favorite stories was how she got her first car and her drivers license at the age of 16.
Hortense was educated in Calvert County Schools. She was a dedicated worker as a cashier in several restaurants in North and Chesapeake Beach, MD. During her working years she developed two lifelong friendships, with the lace Martha Outman and Edith Robey. At age 62, she retired from Martha's Convenient Store.
ln her earlier years, she attended St. Edmonds United Methodist Church. While attending the church, she was baptized and worked as a Sunday school teacher.
On April 16, 1936, she was united in Holy Matrimony to the late David William Brown and from that union they were blessed with eight children. Hortense (Big Mama) was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She took such pride in preparing special holiday meals with her sister Catherine and Dorothy who often accompanied her. Some of her favorite dishes were potato salad, homemade biscuits, lemon cake with lemon glaze, bread and rice pudding with lemon sauce, candied yams and her famous fried chicken.
In December 1985, Big Mama and her late husband David William Brown relocated to Washington, DC where she continued to babysit and care for her grandchildren and neighborhood children. Her love for children was so overwhelming that she participated in multiple everts that involved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She referred to the grand and great grandsons as "My boys" and the girls as "My girls". Big Mama was able to develop a special and distinct relationship with each of her children and grandchildren.
Big Mama leaves to cherish her fond memories with her children, Delores A. Jones, William David Brown (Maxine), Gladys Brown, Catherine Blacknall, Myrtle Josephine Johnson (Calvin), Donnell Brown and Vanessa Brown-Harrod (Todd Harrod), (her grandchild whom she raised from eight-months old), her two sisters Dorothy Mae Dixon and Catherine Gardner; and a hose of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by brother Russell Dixon, her sister Elizabeth Gorman, her son Russell Alexander Brown, daughter Freda Elizabeth Reid, and her grandson Donnell Chrisfield Brown.
