Mrs. Velma Jean Brown

Velma Jean Brown was the fourth of eight children born to the parentage of Rev. Ernest Crayton and Alice Crayton on April 8, 1934. Velma was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings, Rev. Horace L. Crayton, Robert Mose (Sonny) Crayton, Ruth Nealey and Doris Washington.

She is also preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Dorothy Nell Johnson.

Velma graduated from Galilee High School in Hallsville, TX, Wiley College in Marshall, TX and attended Southern Bible Institute in Dallas, TX.

Velma united with the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Hallsville, TX at thirteen years of age, later with the Allen Chapel Baptist Church in Dallas, TX.

In December of 1953, Velma was united in marriage to Lelton Brown. To this union two children were born, Dorothy Nell (Brown) Johnson and Karen Brown.

Sister Velma Brown was a founding member and united with the Greater Mt. Hebron Baptist Church formed in 1963, where she served as secretary for forty five years, retiring in 2008, but faithful until her declining health took its toll. During the time she served as secretary, there was so much to be done that she transitioned through. Everything had to be done by hand or typewriter, from filling out ledgers and closing out the Sunday’s business which often meant being the last person at church to leave. Every Sunday after offering, she would have to “go to the back” as we called it, to begin the financial part of her job. Not long before Sister Brown retired, she was able to get in on the beginning of entering information into the computer…how the times have changed.

Sister Velma Brown served in many capacities during her active years in the church from Sunday School Teacher, Mission Board Teacher and also numerous boards within the church. Sister Brown was an exceptional speaker who was called upon to give speeches at many functions because of her natural gift of communicating God’s word.

Velma was an avid reader with a king sized bed that was always fifty percent (or more) full of books, pens, note pads and cassette tapes. Even after a linen change, all were placed right back. She would write notes on anything that would take ink.

Velma worked for Practical Drawing Company for twenty years until the company went out of business. She then worked for the City of Dallas for ten years, a job she loved, before retiring in 1996.

She leaves to cherish her memories her loving daughter, Karen Brown (Dallas, TX); her two grandsons, Torey T. Johnson and Jerrell B. Johnson (Dallas, TX); one brother, Carl Crayton (Betty) (Marshall, TX); two sisters, Lucille Dillard (Dallas, TX), Earnest Donaldson (Desoto, TX); nine great grandchildren, Jasmine, Ebony, Jordan, Nyjasmine, Jadah, Kameron, JaNiya, Janet and Thomas; and a host of very special nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.