Jessie Mae Brown

On October 18, 2023 Jessie Mae (Harvey) Brown went to be with the Lord in Caledonia, MI at the age of 93 years old. Jessie was the sixth child born on November 14, 1929 to Carrie and Eugene Harvey in Washington, NC.

She attended the Beaufort County School System and graduated from Washington Colored High School in 1948. She then attended Winston Salem Teacher’s College where she graduated in 1953, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. In 1964, Jessie married Ben E. Brown in Woodland Park, MI. They met when she was teaching in Woodland Park and Ben was a poultry farmer in Bitely, MI. In addition to three cherished foster sons, they welcomed Cascelia, Denise and Benita. They were married for 33 years until Ben’s death in 1997.

Jessie accepted Jesus Christ at St. Luke’s Church of Christ in Washington, NC, at twelve years of age. During their marriage she served with her husband as he pastored the Bible Study Center Church in Brohman, MI.

In 1961, she became the first black woman to apply for a teaching position in the Baldwin School District. The Superintendent told her no one black had ever applied and he did not know what to tell her. She left, went to Detroit and returned a few years later to teach in Bitely, Covert, and finally became the first black teacher in the Baldwin School District. Jessie taught elementary school for 34 years and 28 of those years were in Baldwin, MI. She and her husband were also proud business owners until his death.

Jessie relocated to the Lansing area in 1998, and became an active member of Grace Bible Baptist Fellowship until 2016. In 2018 she joined Empowerment Church of Southfield, MI. Jessie was an avid reader, gardener, traveler and believer of friendship and fellowship.

She leaves to cherish her memory, sister, Evelyn Gaines; daughters: Cascelia, Denise and Benita; son-in-love, David Brandon; grandchildren: LaDominic (Jamel), Len, Christian and Jordyn; great-granddaughters: Onika and Mariah (David) Brandon-Berkley; great-great-grandson, David Jackson Jr. (DJ); numerous nieces and nephews; sisters and brothers in faith, and former co-workers and students.

A funeral service for Jessie M. Brown is scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 2023 with a visitation at 12:00 pm and memorial service at 1:00 pm at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Kentwood with eulogy by Elder Ethel Yvonne Middlebrooks. Burial services will be conducted at the family cemetery plot in Harvey Hamlet Cemetery, Washington, North Carolina.

In Appreciation: The Brown family is grateful for the many acts of kindness shown to us in such a loving manner. The many prayers, cards, calls, visits and other expressions of comfort offered to help us endure the reality of earthly separation from our beloved one. We extend a very sincere thank you to RN Kailey; SW Lauren; Aide Brenda; Chaplin Norvie and Payton along with the entire Interim Health Care Hospice Team for their loving devotion to providing care for our mother. The sincere love and concern for our mother from everyone will forever be etched on our hearts.

Spoken in her own words:

“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to convey my love and affection for my relatives and friends. I love each and every one of you.”

JESSIE M. BROWN

April 2, 2005