Ms. Merline Dotson Brown

Ms. Merline Dotson Brown, daughter of Mazzie Lee Little Dotson and Simmie Dotson, Sr., was born June 3, 1945, in Terrell County, Georgia. She attended the public schools of Terrell County, Georgia, and graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1962.

At an early age, she joined Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bronwood, Georgia. There, she was a member until her demise. Merline was married to Willie Slaughter, Jr. (who preceded her in death) and to this union, three children were born. In later years, she was married to Melvin O. Brown, who preceded her in death, and to this union, one child was born.

On Monday morning, December 29, 2025, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, Merline gave up her f ight for life for her eternal resting place. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, McArthur Little, Simmie Dotson, Jr., Mary Lee Dotson Bridges, Booker T. Dotson, Hurchell Dotson, Arthur Dotson, and Mattie Turner.

Merline leaves a legacy of love to her devoted family: loving sons, Cedric Slaughter (Ana) of McDonough, Georgia and Kelvin Brown (Laurice) of Parrott, Georgia; loving daughters, Melrosa Russell of Dawson, Georgia and Merlavette Jackson (Kenneth) of Powder Springs, Georgia; eight grandchildren, Nakeshia, Kenneth (Lakaya), Kenecia, Kenneth, Jr., Genesis, Corlata, Amaijah, and Lauryn; four great-grandchildren, Kameron, Kamille, Kennedy, and Kaden; sisters and brothers, Glemadine Boston of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Elizabeth Marshall of Lithonia, Georgia, Ruth P. Brown (Reverend Marvin), Jackie Butts, Sander Gail Cody (Reverend Jonathan), Reverend Allison Harvey (Edward), and Kenneth Dotson all of Dawson, Georgia; Bishop Ricky Lewis of Jacksonville, Florida; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.