Marthalene "Maffie" Brown

Marthalene “Maffie” Brown, of Tuscaloosa, born Feb. 24, 1942, died Dec. 27, 2012, at Hospice of West Alabama following her third battle with cancer. Services will be 12 noon today, Dec. 29, 2012, at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home, 5200 Old Birmingham Hwy., with Rev. Jimmy McSpadden and Rev. Drew Dockery officiating. Private burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Burton and Jessie Kyle Brown; niece, Kelly Ann Eastwood; brother-in-law, Ray Eastwood; and the love of her life, Robert Hudson.

She is survived by beloved sisters, Joan Eastwood and Frances Justice of Tuscaloosa; nephews, Michael Justice (Heather) of Tuscaloosa and Craig Justice (Frances Howse) of Atlanta, Ga.; her aunt, Hazel Kyle Sherer of Jasper, Ala.; uncle, Clyde McSpadden of Hoover, Ala.; and several beloved cousins. Also surviving are longtime friends Barbara Cooper, Jean Minter, Gloria Miles, Mike Bentley, Sandra Smith, Patsy Wideman, Kim Clark, Linda Tomano, Eleanor Boykin, Sharon Deck, Lewis Dean, and Louise Maxwell; and godchildren, Courtney Cooper (Maffie's little angel), Rob Cooper (Donna), David Cooper (Staci), Ashlyn Nilsen (Matt), Megan Abbott, Joey Cooper, and Jackson Nilsen.

Maffie was a proud graduate of Phillips High School in 1959. She worked for three years for the Superintendent of the Birmingham Public Schools before beginning a career with the federal government. She worked in both the public and private sectors throughout her career, mostly in the legal field. After living in Dallas, Texas for 16 years she returned to Birmingham in 1990, retiring from the U.S. District Court in 1999. She then moved to Tuscaloosa and retired in 2008 from Randall-Reilly Publishing Company.

She loved to talk and laugh with her family and friends and maintained her unique sense of humor throughout her illnesses. She was diagnosed with three different types of cancer beginning in 1991. Two of the three were very rare, which she said confirmed her lifelong belief that she was special. She dearly loved her niece, nephews, and godchildren, who brought many hours of happiness to her life. She was an avid reader and loved her cats, movies, Scrabble, and all things Mickey Mouse. Thanks to the efforts of Cheryl Sullivan, in 1999 Maffie was named an Honorary Citizen of Walt Disney World. She also loved music and was blessed to sing in both the Youth and Adult Choirs at Parkview Baptist Church, her home church in Birmingham.

Maffie said her sisters spoiled her at all times and took very special care of her during her illnesses. She was blessed with a loving family, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, and was privileged to have so many remarkable people as her friends. She also was very thankful for the numerous prayers and support offered by so many people.

Special thanks to Dr. Leonard W. Jones Ill, Dr. Ronald A. Alvarez, and Hospice of West Alabama for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Rd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35404; to any organization promoting literacy; to one's favorite animal shelter or animal rescue organization; or to First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.