Helen Rawls Brown

Helen Rawls Brown, 96, widow of James V. Brown, of Sumter, SC, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Ridgeland Nursing Center.

Born April 15, 1929, in Darlington, SC, she was the daughter of the late Arthur Clement Rawls and the late Zula Whichard Rawls. Helen was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sumter, SC, where she was very active in playing the piano and singing. Helen at age 96 was still entertaining her fellow residents at the nursing home by playing the piano.

Helen loved to travel. If you said GO, she was packed. She and her family enjoyed many trips together, which included the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and many trips to Fayz's at the Lake for seafood. There was never a time she came home from any trip that she didn't talk of meeting and chatting with friends, or meeting and making new friends. Helen was a people person, and she never met a stranger.

Survivors include a son, James V. Brown, Jr. (Carolyn); two daughters, Elaine Langford and Gail Guess; daughter-in-law, Faye D'Angelo (Tony); nine grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and three nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one son, Charles Marshall Brown; and four siblings.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 P.M. Saturday, November 29, 2025, at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 P.M. Saturday in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel officiated by the Rev. Dr. Bob Calvert. Burial will take place at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be James V. Brown III, Michael Brown, Bradley Brown, Caiden Allen, Chase Usry, and Brody Proctor.

Helen's family would like to give a Thank You to the Ridgeland Nursing Center, Cresent Hospice, and Crystal Guess for the exceptional care she received.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Sumter First Baptist Church, 107 East Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150.

Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Cremation of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.