A strong woman who was a servant of the Lord and a warrior for the salvation of others until the end. 

Johnnie Mae Brown passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at the tender age of 93 years young at Sacred Ground Hospice Home.  She was born November 27, 1931, in Knoxville, Tennessee to John Bolden and Anna Mae Bolden (Chandler). 

Johnnie Mae Brown grew up in Knoxville and attended Austin High School. During her time at Austin High School, she met Randolph Brown and they started dating her senior year in high school.  Upon her graduation, she married Randolph in 1950 and they remained married until Randolph’s death on May 19, 2003.   

Johnnie Mae and Randolph had five children together.  She taught her children about the goodness of the Lord at an early age.  She was a warrior for the Lord most of her life and the light of Jesus Christ reflected brightly through her.  As a result of her goodness, people were drawn to her, both family and strangers alike.  She was a motherly figure not only to her children but also to her nieces, nephews, in-laws, church members, and even people she interacted with at various workplaces. 

Johnnie Mae was a long-time employee at Standard Knitting Mills, working the night shift.  As a result of this, she slept during the day but left explicit instructions regarding meal preparations so that her husband Randolph would have a hot meal when he came home from one of his three jobs.  The boys would follow her cooking instructions so as a result, all of the Brown boys can cook!! Now she would cook in the kitchen for the family fellowship dinners to enjoy along with her church members of Edgewood Chapel.  She was well known for her “from scratch” pound cakes and her German chocolate cakes.   

Johnnie Mae later started working at Baptist Hospital as a nursing aide and it was here that her close walk with the Lord allowed her to witness to numerous patients over the years, even being by the bedside of patients who were transitioning to Glory.  She prayed with them and was truly a blessing to all who encountered her.  Even her last conversations were not wasted on sports, politics or social media but rather on using her words to bring all those close by and around her during her final journey to get right with the Lord and not wait until it was too late. 

She was a long-time member of Edgewood Chapel AME Church and was devoted to the church and its members until her health would no longer allow her to attend church services.  The Edgewood Chapel members were her family and she loved them with all of her heart. 

Johnnie Mae enjoyed things such as people-watching through the picture window of her home, reading scripture, crossword puzzles, Dr. Peppers, daytime soap operas, and mentoring her children & relatives on all subjects through extensive conversations! She loved a good conversation!  Many know of the word of the Lord she was willing to spread to all those who would listen, but most don’t know about her other hidden talents and forsaken career choices.  She was an untapped artist.  She used to enjoy sitting in the sun on the back porch with a paintbrush and a small canvas.  She was also a poet and would jot down numerous spiritual uplifting verses to be tucked away for special eyes only.  Her career as a meteorologist and weather person was exposed some years ago at a special tribute given in her honor at Edgewood.   

Some of her favorite reads in the bible included 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 highlighting the temporary nature of earthly suffering compared to the eternal rewards.  

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – to everything there is a season and a time for every matter under Heaven.  

Psalms 30:5 refers to the fact that God’s anger is momentary, while His favor is everlasting.  All these passages lead us back to what she would always tell us “This too shall pass.”  She lived this life looking out for and holding the ones she loved until her very last breath knowing that for her This too shall pass.   

Johnnie Mae enjoyed a long and beautiful life and cheerfully entered the kingdom of heaven, which is the most any Saint of God, can hope for.  

Johnnie Mae is preceded in death by her parents, Hattie, Buelah, her husband, son Randolph Jr, granddaughter Daynelle, and daughters- in- law Yolanda & Maria. 

Left to cherish her memories : sister Mary, her children: Gary (Belinda), Phillip (Yolanda, deceased), Glenn (Nneka) and Shirley (Carmelita), a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and devoted friends.