Muriel Lee Brown

Muriel Lee Brown (Punkin) was born in Portsmouth, VA on July 3, 1922. She was one of twelve children to the late James and Margaret Reid. Her formative education occurred at the Mt. Herman Elementary School. In 1940, she graduated from the city’s I.C. Norcom High School. She married Willie Edward Brown of Portsmouth, VA. Muriel was the proud mother of three sons, Herbert, Anthony and Willie, Jr. During World War II, she worked as a riveter and welder at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In 1957, the family moved to Boston, MA where Muriel would live for the rest of her life. Shortly after relocating to Boston, Muriel joined the Charles Street A.M.E. Church under the pastorate of the Reverend Walter C. Davis. During her more than fifty years of faithful membership, Muriel actively served as a member of Stewardess Board #3, Mazie Ashford Missionary Choir, and the Church Choir. In addition, she was an untiring Class Leader and a committed Leader of the William Hunter Unit of the Sarah Gorham Women’s Missionary Society. One of her missionary responsibilities involved her coordinating many of the bus trips to the various conferences and outings. Several years ago, she was honored by being named a Mother of the church by her pastor, the Reverend Dr. Gregory G. Groover, Sr. Muriel had many gifts and among them were her extraordinary technical and mathematical skills. She worked for Raytheon Corporation for a number of years before moving on to Polaroid, where she devoted twenty-one years of service as a film processor, before retiring. Muriel was preceded in death by her two sisters, Arnnetta Priscilla Reid and Margaret Hughs; five brothers William Reid, James Reid, Jr., Charles Reid, George Henry Reid and John Reid. While Muriel has peacefully slipped into eternity, she leaves behind her two sons Herbert Brown (Bertha) of Virginia Beach, VA and Willie Edward Brown, Jr., of Hollywood, California; her sister Aurelia Sanderson of Washington D.C.; brothers Isaiah Reid (Betty) of Columbus, S.C., Daniel L. Reid of Bergenfield, NJ, and Thomas A. Reid (Dorothy) of Pearland, TX; six grandchildren Michele Brown of St. Louis, MO, Herbert Brown, Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA, Trisha Brown of Chesapeake, VA, Scharah Holmes of Chesapeake, VA, Kami-Lii Ward of Randolph, MA and Kafi D’Ambrosi of Baltimore, MD; thirteen great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, a loving church family and many, nieces, nephews and friends

Muriel Lee Brown

July 3, 1922 - December 8, 2013