Mrs. Helen Marie Brown

Helen Marie (Davis) Brown passed away on February 5, 2013 in Whittier, California. Helen was born under humble circumstances to Marvin & Mary (Bennett) Davis during the Great Depression, being born in a tent, at a place called Old Donalds Bend, in Wilson, Arkansas. She was married to Billy Brown; had two sons, J.B. and Steven; and was the sister of John, Oma, Allen, Shirley, Alice and Dave.



Helen attended many different educational institutions throughout her life, including: Riverside School in Memphis, Tennessee; American College in Memphis, Tennessee; Excelsior Adult School in Norwalk, California; Cerritos College in Norwalk, California; and Long Beach City College in Long Beach, California.



As a child, Helen formed a deep bond with her father who worked as a sharecropper to support the family. However, she remembered days of being so poor that her fathers two brothers would steal potatoes in order to help feed the Davis clan there were times of fried potatoes for breakfast, and potato soup for supper. It certainly was these experiences that contributed to Helen becoming a very frugal adult. Her family would joke with Helen, saying she could stretch a quarter until the eagle squealed. Times improved financially when her father went to work for the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal agency to carry out public works projects in the 1930s. Then in 1942, her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where her father went to work for Firestone Tire. After moving to Tennessee, Helens mother also started work as a seamstress in a dress factory. Helen and her sister, Oma, had to care for the younger siblings: Oma would dress Shirley and French-braid her hair for school, Helen would do the same for Alice, and they would always braid a ribbon into their hair that matched their dresses. As kids they all loved music and dancing; their favorite songs to dance to were Sentimental Journey and Peg of My Heart. Shirley would stand on Omas feet and Alice would stand on Helens feet and they would dance all around the Living Room. Dancing, however, took on a whole new meaning when they all learned to Jitterbug.



Helens relationships with her siblings were always important to her. And of course, like most sibling relationships, there may have been a difference of opinion at some time or another. Helen became affectionately known by her family as the Velvet Hammer. This name was given by her sister Alice for when Helen got angry over something. Helen would never yell or scream - she could plainly tell you off without ever raising her voice, but you always knew you had been put in your place. This, however, didnt stop her from forming deep bonds with her brothers and sisters, including a very close relationship, over the recent years with her brother Dave and his wife Tracie.



Church was a significant part of the Helens life, starting with her childhood. With all the moving that Helens family did when she was young, they would always attend the nearest church since they never had a car. Therefore, she attended many different churches such as: Baptist, Methodist, Assembly of God, Presbyterian, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal churches. It provided her and her family with a very diverse religious education. God remained in the nucleus of her life, and that faith provided strength throughout her lifetime.



Helens family was always close friends with the Brown family in Blytheville, Arkansas. On one of her familys visits with the Browns, Helen and Billy fell in love. She was fifteen and he was nineteen. After that, Billy came to Memphis to ask her father for her hand in marriage. Surprisingly, Dad granted it to him. Most of the family was surprised because Helen was Dads favorite and it didnt seem likely that he would give her up because she was so young, not to mention, Marvin always threatened a great deal of bodily harm to anyone who caused his little girl any pain. Nevertheless, her fathers love for her was so strong that all he wanted was to see her happy. Of course, Helens family recalls how delighted Marvin was in making it as difficult as possible for Billy to ask for Helens hand. Helen and Billy were eventually married in Blytheville in Billys parents Living Room. When Helen became pregnant with J.B., she was so very thrilled. She had difficult pregnancies and had to spend a great deal of time in bed, but she said it was worth it because they ended up with J.B. and Steven. J.B. played football and his parents took tremendous pride in seeing him play. Steven was more academically inclined; however, the two brothers shared a strong, close bond their whole lives. When the boys were very young, Helen and Billy decided to move to California. In August 1952, they settled in Norwalk and remained there for the rest of their lives.



After Billys passing, Helen dedicated herself to many community activities. She was involved with the Norwalk Womens Club which she joined in 1996. At the Womens Club she held positions including, Amenity Chairwoman, Communications & Identity Director, and Crime Prevention & Safety Chairperson positions until she was elected President in 2000, where she served as President for two years. In addition to her involvement in Norwalk, Helen concurrently served as Communication & Identity Director for Los Cerritos District under the leadership of President Suzanne Seager. Helen was also involved in the PTA in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. She held all the normal PTA Offices in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District while her sons were in school. Additionally, she was Team Mother and Scorekeeper on Southwest Little League Association for 6 years; served as Team Mother on Pop Warner Football League for 2 years; Head Score Keeper for the Norwalk Pony League for 2 years; Kept score for AMA Motocross of Orange County for 4 years; Served in her church as Sunday School Teacher (for both adults and children) for over 20 years; active with the Norwalk Relay for Life for 4 years; was active with LCD Alumnae (serving on the board 3 times); served as Norwalk City Commissioner for over 10 years; participated on the Norwalk Mayors Prayer Breakfast Committee for 12 years; supported the Friends of Norwalk Libraries for 20 years; and served on the Norwalk Community Coordinating Council as Luncheon & Banquet Vice President. In addition to all this, she also arranged trips to Stateline and Vegas for several years, participated with writings in a literary group, and was involved with TOPS and the American Legion. Her siblings would tease saying that even they needed an appointment to talk to her.



A viewing will take place on Monday, February 18, 2013, 4-8pm at White Emerson Mortuary Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, 10am at First Baptist Church, 14000 San Antonio Drive, Norwalk, California, 90650, 626-393-6346. Interment will follow at 2pm, Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd,, Riverside, California, 92518.