Oriella H. Brown

Oriella Rosetta Hinds Woods de Brown, better known as Lela, was born on Utila Bay Islands of Honduras on October 31, 1920, to Pansy Woods Hinds and Samuel Hinds. She was married to Daniel Cyril Brown and together they had 5 children: Cyril, Una, Martha, Earl and Marilyn.

Oriella was the oldest of her 11 siblings: Thomas, Earl, Avonelle, Mary, Grace, Pansy, Elmer, Eric, Stella and Maggie. She was blessed with 13 Grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 11 great, great grandchildren.

She was a Charter member of the Utila Church of God, where she was the clerk at one time, Sunday School teacher, programs and dialogues coordinator for YPE, (Young Peoples Endeavors} and it was her joy. She could sing Opera and did so at church as a soloist or with her sisters Grace and Pansy. She was a wonderful cook and baker in her own right. She would create the menu for the food at the church conventions and made sure the speakers were well fed.

Oriella was preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Pansy, husband Cyril, 2 sons Cyril and Earl, 4 brothers Thomas, Earl, Elmer and Eric, 3 sisters Avonelle, Mary and Grace, and 2 grandsons Gary and Tony.

She is survived by her daughters Una (Everton) Martha, Marilyn (Keith) her devoted daughter-in- law Marlene. Sister’s Pansy, Stella and Maggie, grand- children, nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Oriella will be held Friday, June 21, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33614 with funeral services beginning at 12:30PM. Entombment will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, FL 33610.