Mrs. Emma “Dean” Lavender Brown

Emma “Dean” Lavender Brown, 68, of Salem, Alabama, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at the Columbus Hospice House while surrounded by her loving family.

A Graveside Service will be held at 2:00 PM EST, on Friday, January 20, 2023, at Crawford Cemetery with Keith Moran officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM EST at Vance Brooks Funeral Home located at 3738 U.S. Highway 431 North Phenix City, AL.

Mrs. Brown was born in Phenix City, Alabama, the daughter of the late Curtis “Sonny” Lavender and Jessie Lunsford Lavender. She was retired from the Lee County Board of Education as a Lunchroom Manager. She was a long-time member of Crawford United Methodist Church. Mrs. Brown loved traveling, especially the mountains of North Georgia and Tennessee. She was known as a kind sweet person who loved doing for others. Animals were also special to Emma, to include thirty goats and dogs. In 1985 Mrs. Brown was presented with the Foster Parent of the year award and she fostered at least sixty-six children during her tenure as a foster parent. Above all, she loved her family and enjoyed spending time with each of them.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Brown was preceded in death by her brother Danny Mark Lavender.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 49 years Jerry Brown; daughters Julie Hudson and husband Tim of Crawford, AL and Jennifer Everage of Barnwell, SC; grandchildren Brandon Hudson and wife Ashlyn, Alex Hudson, Tyler Lenoir, Emmaleigh Herring and Izzy Herring; great grandchildren Scarlett Hudson, Livi Hudson and Willow Hudson and many extended family members and caring friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting contributions be made to the Columbus Hospice House in Mrs. Brown’s memory.