Sandra P. Brown

Sandra Brown, beloved wife, mother, friend, preschool teacher and “GG” to her grandchildren and many others, died Friday, January 29, 2021 at Baptist Memorial Hospital - Memphis after a short illness. She was 73 years old.

A joyful and beautiful child, Sandra was born Sandra Leigh Pitts on April 9, 1947 in Memphis, to parents Robert S. Pitts and Frances Johnstone Pitts. Her earliest memories were of exploring grandmother Mama Kay’s boarding houses in midtown Memphis and competing in horse shows and barrel races for most of her childhood. She was an accomplished racer and rider, winning a host of coveted championship trophies during her tenure.

While attending Bartlett High School, she met the stylish and devilishly handsome William C. Brown, Jr. “Bill”, an athletic basketball standout with an entrepreneurial spirit and a fascination with fast cars. They cultivated a large and rowdy social group of couples that has astonishingly remained largely intact and in-touch to this day. Following an idyllic teen courtship which included many proms and other dances and after her high school graduation in 1965, Bill and Sandra were happily married in 1966. Unfortunately, Bill’s draft into the war in Vietnam immediately separated them for 2 years. Upon his return, he was introduced to their first son, “Stacey” Wayne Brown, and they settled into their first home as a family on Prince Andrew Cove in the Raleigh area of Memphis. Stacey was an easygoing baby, and was the spitting image of his fair mother.

Sandra thrived as an in-demand preschool teacher at Bartlett United Methodist Church on Stage Road, alongside her beloved teaching partner, Marilyn Parker, for close to 30 years. Dozens of handmade gifts, class portraits, ornaments, drawings and mementos are proudly displayed around her home; a testament to the deep bonds she formed within and the influence she bestowed upon the Bartlett community. She eventually began to see the next generation of children come through her classroom doors at BUMC Preschool, and remembered each generational pair by name. The outpouring of tributes, cards, calls and flowers from these former students as they received news of her passing has been so heartwarming.

Brandon “Shea” Brown arrived to complete the Brown family in 1974. With a mess of blonde curls and a mischievous streak and face to match his dad’s, Sandra settled in to embark on the thrilling, heart-tugging, frustrating and messy life of being the mother to two very playful, very loud and very special boys. There was never a baseball, basketball, soccer, football game, no play, concert, class party, award ceremony or graduation that she missed. Every staff member and fellow parent knew and remembered her, long after the boys grew up. All admired her giving spirit and eternal cheerleading of her sons, seemingly never feeling burdened by the rigors of parenting. Brother Joel at Christian Brothers High School particularly loved “Mrs. Brown” and recalled specific memories of her some 20 years after her sons first stepped onto campus. Many say that’s just who Sandra was--always bringing childlike joy and pure love into every encounter with her.

In her later years, Sandra flourished in a second career, as a fragrance sales representative at Macy’s in the Wolfchase Galleria Mall. A gifted conversationalist, she broke sales records and came to love her co-workers, particularly Manuel, like family. She became known as the fragrance fairy, gifting bottles of fancy perfumes and colognes to friends and family at every opportunity. We do not believe we shall want for any replenishment, ever.

Her greatest pride and longing was to be with family and she particularly yearned for grandchildren, not so secretly hoping a baby girl might eventually be in the mix. She rejoiced when her niece, Kim Walker, was blessed with two boys, whom she doted on as any grandmother would. She also welcomed 3 older “bonus” grandchildren, Carley and Holden, belonging to Kim and Shea; and Christopher, belonging to Jennifer and Stacey. In 2010, Jennifer and Stacey’s daughter, Campbell Grace Brown, named for 3 generations of Brown patriarchs, wedged her way right into Sandra and Bill’s hearts and wallets. Sandra could finally buy some pink ruffled things and also model that yellow gown that she had been saving from her pregnancy with Stacey on a real, live baby girl. In 2012, Cannon Micah Brown joined his sister, with a familiar streak of blonde hair and that same mischievous twinkle in his eye. The Brown genes are strong, indeed.

Sandra spent her last two decades of life traveling, both with her children and their families, and also with her brother and sister-in-law, Becky and Mike Walker. She particularly enjoyed exotic cruises and their multiple stays at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico. Her endearing refrain, “This is fun, Bill!,” has become a common inside joke within the family. She spent several years selflessly helping to care for Bill’s dad, Bill, Sr., at the end of his life, after Bill and Becky’s mother passed away. She faithfully took him to the senior center, helped with housekeeping and grocery shopping and provided him with company. She greatly enjoyed gardening and keeping her koi pond at her home in Bartlett and putting around on a 4 wheeler at the Brown Family Farm in Saulsbury, TN. Of course she spent most of her time attending every childhood milestone event with her grandchildren, beaming with pride.

Bill Brown, her husband of 54 years, grieves this tremendous loss with the loving support of his family and friends. In addition to her sons and their wives, Stacey (Jennifer) and Shea (Kim) Brown, Sandra is mourned by two beautiful, vivacious grandchildren, Campbell and Cannon Brown, and three “bonus” grandchildren, Carley Oakley, Holden Brewer, and Christopher Morgan. She will also be deeply missed by her sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Mike Walker and their families and also by her great niece and her husband and sons, Kim, Josh, Jacob and Jordan Walker. A host of life long friends, neighbors and co-workers are deeply feeling the loss of this special lady. We find comfort in the knowledge that she is painlessly and joyfully united with our Heavenly Father, delighting in every discovery in heaven as she did on earth.

If memorial donations wish to be given, the family requests that donations be made in Sandra’s honor to any of the following organizations:

Gary Sinise Foundation

The Gary Sinise Foundation is a wonderful non-profit that provides many types of services to veterans and first responders. Sandra felt strongly about supporting our brave men and women of the military.

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate/

(888) 708-7757

Grace Hill Church

10576 Collierville Rd

Collierville, TN 38017

Jason Stockdale, Pastor, will lead the service on Thursday. Sandra and Bill attended Grace Hill many times over the years with Jennifer, Stacey and their children.

http://www.gracehill901.com/give

(901) 853-3503

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Sandra and Bill were regular donors to this treasure in our hometown.

https://www.stjude.org/donate/

(800) 805-5856

Bill’s address is below for cards or gifts of remembrance.

Bill Brown

5156 Blackwell Rd

Memphis, TN 38134

Visitation and Service Information will be as follows:

Visitation: Wednesday, February 3 from 5-7 PM

Service: Thursday, February 4 at 10 AM

**Facebook Live streaming attendance will be available on the Funeral Home Facebook Page**

Memphis Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

3700 N Germantown Pkwy

Bartlett, TN 38133