Mary Brown-Smith

Mary Brown-Smith was born on December 2, 1928, to the late Reverend Daniel and Carlotta Anderson in Goochland County, Virginia. In addition to Mary, there were six siblings: Alberta (Bert), Caleb (Top), Daniel, Nathaniel (Nate), William, and Carlotta (Baby), all pre-deceased her death. 

Mary was baptized at an early age, joining the family church. She attended a “one room” public school from first to seventh grade, and later graduated from Central High School, in Goochland, Virginia. Mary continued her education at Virginia State College, (Virginia State University), in Petersburg, Virginia where she majored in Business Administration. Unfortunately, she was unable to complete her studies and graduate due to financial reasons. 

It was always Mary’s desire to work in an office, so she later moved to Richmond (VA), to live with an aunt while attending a church-sponsored school for stenography and typing. Her talent and expertise in shorthand and typing landed her a position as a Clerk-Stenographer for the prestigious and Black-owned “Southern Aid Life Insurance” Company founded in 1893. This would only be the beginning of Mary’s career journey to break glass ceilings during a time when it was rare for Black women to be hired as office workers, especially by white-owned companies.

After working a few years with “Southern Aid Life Insurance” Company, Mary (and a high school girlfriend) made a bold choice and decided to move to New York to expand her work opportunities and experience. While living in New York, Mary successfully obtained employment as a Clerk-Stenographer for the U.S. Navy. Despite numerous obstacles for Black women at the time, Mary’s faith and bold spirit saw no obstacles in her career path. Mary later relocated and moved to Washington, DC, where her brother Daniel and his family were living, continued her career as a Clerk-Stenographer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Mary had been living in Washington, DC for a number of years when she met and later married Alfonso Brown, an Assistant Principal at Wilson High School. Unfortunately, Alfonso and Mary were married less than one year, when he was tragically killed while chaperoning a homecoming game and dance at Wilson High School. Her unwavering faith in God and blessed with close family and friends, Mary continued to “excel and bloom” in her life, reaching levels beyond her aspirations and imagination. Mary continued and expanded her career working at the Veterans Administration taking on projects, gaining knowledge in compliance and oversight of veterans’ programs. Mary quietly set the bar high for herself as it was important for her to provide exemplary leadership to her staff and helpful service to the veterans’ community. While working for the Veterans Administration, she later met and married Milton Smith. Mary retired as Assistant Veterans Services Officer, Section Chief, from the Veterans Administration after 30 years of Federal Government service.

Mary and Milton later moved to Lake of the Woods community located in Locust Grove, Virginia. It did not take long for Mary to weave her way into the community, remaining active in her retirement by participating in organizations, traveling, and engaging in a variety of hobbies and crafts - sewing, needle point, crocheting, floral arrangements, etc. One of Mary’s significant activities included participating in the Sylvannah Home Extension Club of Spotsylvania County, which is instrumental in helping and visiting nursing homes, raising money for high school scholarships, and volunteering for other activities in the community.

Mary and Milton joined Mt. Hope Baptist Church in 1990, after meeting several friends who attended under the leadership of Dr. Raymond Bell, Pastor. Both Milton and Mary became very active in the church and became highly active in several church programs, activities, and ministries, which included Milton singing in the Men’s choir, where he also served as President. Milton also was a member of the Men’s ministry and served as a Deacon until his death in 2003. 

Mary became even more involved in her church community, following the death of her husband. She sang in the Choir, joined the Women’s Ministry led by Sister Earlene Reynolds, Ministry Chair, and former Church Clerk. In 1995 Mary became leader of the Women’s Ministry and was successful in encouraging, engaging, and involving more Mt. Hope women in major church tasks and activities.

Mary transferred her career success and leadership gifts and talent for organization, program development, creative decorating, floral arrangements, and fundraising, helped the Women’s Ministry to thrive and grow. She even assisted with the attire and presentation of the Men’s Choir when they sang. Mary worked hard to establish strong connections with local community churches and their Women’s Ministries. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s Mt. Hope’s Women’s Day was established as an annual day of celebration and recommitment to the Women’s Ministry’s mission, church fundraising and community collaboration efforts. 

Mary always added a special touch as part of her participation in the church, embraced each role, task and activity with dignity and never hesitated to take on responsibility. Mary was greatly admired for her special talents in creating floral arrangements and took extreme care and pride in all that she created. Every Sunday, Mary ensured that Mt. Hope’s pulpit was fully and gracefully adorned with appropriate floral arrangements created by her. Her floral creations were always a part of any religious, seasonal, or special event(s) or observance held at Mt. Hope. Highly respected, she was frequently invited by Pastor Bell to serve in major leadership or co-leadership roles because of her desire to see the church thrive and prosper in leading persons in Christ and how she helped to enhance members’ spiritual growth and fellowship through wholesome external activities. 

One of her most enjoyable leadership activities was serving as Co-Founder and Leader of the “THE GOLDEN FLYERS” Senior Ministry. She always had a trip or activity planned for the Seniors. For many years, the “GOLDEN FLYERS” enjoyed many trips to the Kennedy Center (The Color Purple), multiple cruise trips to the Caribbean, Riverboat Cruises to Tangier Island (2006), White House Tour (2010), Martin Luther King Memorial, Gospel Lunch Cruise on the Spirit of Washington on the Potomac River, more than 7 trips to “Sight and Sound” Theatre (Pennsylvania), Swift Creek Mills Theatre (Colonial Heights), local trips to the Riverside Dinner Theatre, and fall trips to the Graves Mountain Lodge for apple picking, shopping and lunch. After several enjoyable years with the “THE GOLDEN FLYERS,” Ms. Mary stepped down from the Ministry. 

Mary was a mother figure for her family, many Mt. Hope members and community friends and was affectionately referred to as “Ms. Mary’ or “Ma Mary,” by many of her close church family. 

As she gracefully entered her early 90’s, Mary “reached back” to her crafting vault and decided to start crocheting afghans and other items for Mt. Hope Deaconess to take to the nursing home patients at the Woodmont Nursing Home at Christmas time. “Ms. Mary” loved her Mt. Hope Church Family.

Memories of Aunt Mary’s amazing precious life of faith, grace, strength, service, and courage shall forever remain in the hearts and the minds of her many nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.

A family visitation will be held at Mount Hope Baptist Church, 6823 Harrison Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407, on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM.