Dorothy Merle Brown

Dorothy Hansen Brown passed away on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at the age of 93. Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she lived and served selflessly and with grace. Ms. Brown was born in Oakland, California on February 4, 1917. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Spanish at the University of California-Berkeley in 1938, she taught English and Physical Education at Liberty Union High School. She met her husband-to-be and the father of her five children when she enrolled in the Zoology class he was teaching as he worked on his Ph.D. A descendant of Anna De Graf, who pioneered the Yukon from 1892 to 1917, walking with a crutch in search of her lost son, Ms. Brown demonstrated her pioneer stock by making the 3, 000-mile train trip to Atlanta by herself to marry H. Eugene Brown, who had accepted a teaching position at the University of Georgia. While working on a Master's Degree in French at the University of Georgia, she also taught Spanish. (One of her students was Charley Trippi, perhaps UGA's all-time best football player.) After her husband finished medical school and the Army sent him to the Panama Canal Zone, she demonstrated her pioneer stock once again by lugging her two sons to join him, while she was eight months pregnant with her third child. Five years later, when her husband terminated a government assignment in Japan and flew ahead to join a medical practice in Atlanta, she did it again. While seven months pregnant with her fourth child, she made a two-week ocean voyage from Japan to San Francisco followed by a three-day train trip to Atlanta with three children in tow. Her mettle was further demonstrated by the fact that she could hang in there with her husband who was an intellectual with a Mensa IQ. She stayed step in step with him in ballroom dancing, and she may have been a better bridge player. And being an excellent cook and seamstress, she could do some things he couldn't. The fact that Dorothy never met a stranger is demonstrated by her wide circle of friends, including people she met on the bus. She didn't drive a car; but with the expert use of transfers, she could get all over town. She was President of the Emory Women's Club in 1960 and, until last Thursday, was its senior surviving Past President. Although blind with Macular Degeneration in recent years, she had a positive attitude and extracted as much from life as her restrictions allowed. A love of music, classical music permeated whatever room she was in, and she listened to the opera on the radio every Saturday afternoon. She was an impeccable parent whose children are grateful for her love and guidance and proud of her many associations. She is survived by her five children: Randall Clifton Brown of Mineral Bluff, GA, Roger Stephen Brown of Kelly Union, WV, Sherry Elaine Champeaux of Chantepie, France, Pamela Ann Brown Spiegel of Villanow, GA, and Kevin Reid Brown of Decatur, GA as well as five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, three nephews, and five nieces. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, October 14, 2010 at the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons, 2773 N. Decatur Rd., Decatur, GA 30033. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 PM at A. S. Turner & Sons. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322 or to Prevent Blindness Georgia, 739 W. Peachtree St., N.W., Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30308-1137. A. S. Turner & Sons

Funeral Home:
AS Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033