Obituary of Doris C. Brown

On Monday, November 9, 2020, Doris Margaret Crawford Brown, a loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, went to be with our Heavenly Father. She passed away quietly at 91, at home, surrounded by family and prayers. Doris was born on March 1, 1929 in Marion County in Rains, SC to the late Blossie Sr. and Clander (Livingston) Crawford. She was the sixth of thirteen children. Doris went to church every Sunday from an early age and gave her life to God. She attended services at both New Life Holiness church (Livingston family’s church) and Bethlehem A.M.E. Church (Crawford family’s church) in Rains, SC but became a member at Bethlehem A.M.E. and began her service. Knowing that she needed to be in the house of God, giving Him the praise, she would sometimes walk to attend worship services. Oh, what a time she would have with the other saints of God! She began her early education in a small wooden segregated school in Rains, SC and then attended Marion County Training School in Marion, SC. After graduating with honors, she matriculated to Allen University in Columbia, SC. She later moved to Charlotte, NC where she met and married her husband Arthur S. Brown, started a family and moved to Camden, NJ. She later completed her formal education at Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Glassboro, NJ receiving a degree in Education. She served as a Special Education Teacher in the Lawnside School District in Lawnside, NJ for more than 25 years. Upon retiring from teaching, she continued teaching as a Substitute Teacher and tutoring students until her health declined. She was a long time member of First Nazarene Baptist Church in Camden, NJ where she sang heavenly hymns in the choir. Doris had a kind and compassionate spirit for helping others in need within her community which led her to be known as “Mama Brown” by everyone. Whenever someone of need would knock at her door for money or something to eat, she would never turn them away empty handed. Two of her favorite hobbies were sewing and crocheting. It became a passion of hers that led to her becoming a skilled seamstress making uniforms for the military in Philadelphia, PA and making clothing items for others. Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Blossie Sr. and Clander Crawford of Rains, SC, husband: Arthur S. Brown, son Bernard Brown, two grandchildren: Celeste and Luther Jr. Fulton, four brothers; Hoyt Crawford, James Crawford, Carwell Crawford and Blossie Crawford Jr, four sisters: Catherine Smith, Jeannette Davis, Erie Bell, Eleamor Graves and Patricia (Tricia) Washington that was raised alongside the siblings. Doris leaves to cherish her memories, five children; son, Arthur Crawford Brown of Camden, NJ, four daughters; Gwendolyn Fulton of Pennsauken, NJ, Doris Ann Dweh of Pennsauken, NJ, Kathy (Katherine) Franklin of Westville, NJ, Princess Fletcher of Merchantville, NJ, two very devoted grand-daughters that she raised as her own daughters; Felicia Jackson and Rosemary Fulton both of Camden, NJ, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great grandson, four sisters; Marie Brantley of Philadelphia, PA, Ella Mae Horton of Wilmington, NC, Sherby Eaddy (Willie) of Wilmington, NC, Norma Burwick of Myrtle Beach, SC, two brother-in-laws; Robert Brown and Nathaniel Brown both of Charlotte, NC, two sister-in-laws; Mary Crawford of Rains, SC and Carolyn Moore of Baltimore, MD, God Daughter; Margaret E Busch (niece) of High Point, NC, other nieces, nephews, cousins and close family friends.