Mary Jo Brown

MARY JO SMITH BROWNSylacauga – Our Mother passed from earth to Heaven on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at Mountain View Lake Retirement Village. Mary Jo Brown was born July 19, 1923 to the late Thomas Seldon Smith and the late Lula DeLoach Smith in Childersburg. She graduated from Childersburg High School as salutatorian in 1941 and was the first Miss Childersburg ever crowned. She became first runner-up in the Miss Alabama pageant that year.Mrs. Brown attended the University of Miami at Coral Gables, Fla. where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.  She also attended the University of Alabama.On Feb. 3, 1946, she married the late Thomas Blanchard Brown Jr., and they had three children.Mrs. Brown was an active member of Sylacauga First United Methodist Church and established the Upper Room Sunday School class. She was a member of the Dee Dee Craddock Sunday School class and served faithfully on the church administrative board. She served as president of the United Methodist Women, both on the local and district level.She served on many boards in the community, among them B.B. Comer Library, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Jaycettes, Girl Scouts, Sylacauga Arts Council, Daughters of the American Revolution, Magnolia Garden Club, and many areas of PTA during her children’s years at local schools. In 1954, she was named Sylacauga’s “Woman of the Year” by the Sylacauga Exchange Club; and in 1972, Mrs. Brown co-founded the Sylacauga Beautification Council which has become one of the city’s most outstanding ongoing programs. It became an instant success under her leadership; and in 1973, she went to New York where she was presented a “Keep America Beautiful” Award by Ralph B. Davidson, publisher of Time Magazine, assisted by Shirley Temple Black. She was later honored in Washington, D.C., by Lady Bird Johnson and U.S. Representative Bill Nichols and also received top honors at the Governor’s Quality Awards luncheon in Montgomery, presented by Gov. George Wallace. In 1974 Mrs. Brown was named “Outstanding Citizen of the Year” by the Civitan Club, and that same year she began a new career in real estate.She became a broker for Atkinson Real Estate and was named top seller for many years. She retired from her real estate career in 1998.Along with her parents and husband, Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her brother, Lawson Smith of Pascagoula, Miss.She is survived by son, Thomas B. Brown III and Joan of Chelsea; daughters, Barbara Brooks and Leo of Westport, Mass.; and Mary Lee Swindall and Joe of Fayetteville.  She leaves four grandchildren, Laura Brown Sykes (Michael), Paul Ruminski, Amy Ruminski Ridgeway (Matt), John Ruminski (Kelly), six step grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.In lieu of flowers memorials can be sent to First United Methodist Church, 105 East Spring St., Sylacauga, AL  35150.The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Mountainview Lake Retirement Village and the staff of Coosa Valley Hospice. The family will receive visitors at Radney Smith Funeral Home Friday evening November 7, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Funeral services for Mrs. Brown will be Saturday November 8, 2014, at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church in Sylacauga, Alabama with interment at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, the Rev James Haskins officiating.    Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneysmith.com.Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL will direct the services.