Mary Anita Brown of Memphis, TN has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved her.
Here is the shape of a life remembered with love.
Mary held deeply to the Presbyterian faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Belief, when lived, becomes a kind of inheritance.
Mary Anita Irving Brown, age 101, died on Saturday, May 2, 2026. She was born in Weir, MS on June 29, 1924 to John T. and Vera Cobb Irving. After graduation from Weir High School, she attended MSCW in Columbus, MS. In 1945, she went to work for Randolph Insurance Company in the Sterick Building (downtown Memphis). After 44 years, she retired in 1989. "Nita" was a faithful member of Buntyn Presbyterian Church for over 70 years. There she served as an Elder, a Sunday School teacher, a choir member, & a Moderator of the Presbyterian Women.
Her hobbies included counted cross stitch, reading, playing bridge, working crossword and sudoku puzzles, as well as word search puzzles and coloring.
She had season's tickets to see the Memphis Tigers basketball for over 30 years. Nita was a BIG Grizzlies fan!
She was preceded in death by her husband, George W. ("Dub") Brown, Jr., her parents, John & Vera, her brother John M. Irving, and sister Rosa G. ("ByBy") Irving, nephew Frank ("Mike") Irving.
She is survived by her nephews Tim (Nita Jean), Craig (Johnnie) & Tracy (Angie) Irving; Ken (Patty) & Paul (Michelle) Reese, and nieces Betty Annis, Charlotte (Tommie) Martin, Polly Jenkins & ALL their kids & grandkids, plus countless Friends!
Service will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to service and interment in Memorial Park Cemetery. Immediately following the interment there will be a reception in the Parkside Event Center of the Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Buntyn Presbyterian Church.
