Franklin – Lessie Ellen Howard Brown, 98, passed away July 21, 2011 at the East Pavilion in Franklin, VA. She was born in Roseboro, NC, a daughter of the late Wade Hampton and Clennie Matthews Autry Howard, and was the widow of Walter Jay Brown, Jr. Mrs. Brown was predeceased by a brother, Wade H. Howard, Jr. After making their home in Murfreesboro, NC for over fifty five years, she and her husband moved to a retirement community, The Village at Woods Edge in Franklin, VA.

After graduating from Roseboro High School, Mrs. Brown attended Kings Business College in Raleigh and Chowan College in Murfreesboro, and for many years attended Cedar Grove (Woodland) Friends Meeting with husband and family.

Surviving are two sons and their families, Walter Jay Brown, III and wife, Janice of Murfreesboro and Matthew Howard Brown and wife, Carol of Hilton Head, SC; two grandsons, Wade Harrell Brown and wife, Paige; Walter Jay Brown, IV and wife, Adrianne; one granddaughter, Karen Elizabeth Brown; step-grandchildren, Jennifer Paris, Douglas Lilley and wife, Martha; and two step-great-granddaughters, Catherine and Amanda Lilley.

A funeral will be conducted at 2 pm Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Wright Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Friends Cemetery in Woodland, NC. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30pm today (Saturday) at the funeral home and suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to a charity of one’s choice. www.wrightfuneralhome.org